Multi-scale analysis of habitat association in a guild of blennioid fishes

Abstract

Changes in the composition of a guild of blennioid reef fishes (comprising 13 species in the families Tripterygiidae and Bleniidae are examined relative to the scale at which their habitat was defined. Correspondence analysis was used to display differences in guild structure. At large, geographical scales, characteristic blennioid assemblages could be detected. Changes in guild structure were due partly to differences in numerical dominance of a set of generalist species and, to a lesser extent, species composition. At broad scales, the blennioid assemblage displayed species-specific depth patterns and association with macroalgal cover. The degree of shelter provided by topographic features characterised the blennioid assemblage at fine scales, and habitat specialisation became apparent at this scale. -from Author