Spatial, temporal and ontogenetic patterns of habitat use by coral reef fishes (Family Labridae)

Abstract

The continuous reef tract on the semi-exposed side of Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, can be divided into 6 habitat zones, which are distinctly different in terms of their physical (depth, slope and wave exposure) and biological characteristics (percentage of living cover, percentage cover of each substratum type, substratum diversity and complexity). Sixty-four labrid species were found to use these habitat zones In 5 surveys conducted over 3 yr. Thirty-eight species (1804 individuals) were recorded in a single survey (area, 13500 m2), of which 8 were abundant (n > 5% of total number of individuals), 6 were common (1 % l km and over 3 yr and 2 seasons (summer and winter). Only 2 of the 8 abundant species showed different patterns of habitat use by adults and recruits, suggestlng ontogenetic shifts in habltat use by these species. In contrast, the others showed no evidence of ontogenetic shifts in habitat use, ~nfer r~ng that recruitment patterns may be important in structuring patterns of habitat use by these species. Further studies are now required to test this hypothesis.