The success of the Gobiidae in tropical Pacific insular streams

Abstract

AbstractThe high islands of the tropical Pacific possess a sparse native fish fauna dominated by the family Gobiidae. Evidence of this domination is presented, together with possible reasons for the success of the Gobiidae. Factors which may have contributed include a marine larval stage, euryhalinity, small size, an excellent climbing ability, a range of trophic level from carnivory through omnivory to herbivory, frequent lack of a gas bladder, and an associated bottom-living life style. The evolution of streams in the high islands of the tropical Pacific is relatively recent, thus there has been little time for colonisation to occur. Furthermore, estuaries in many islands are poorly developed, thereby placing euryhaline estuarine species at a competitive disadvantage.