Behavioural ecology of space use, mobility, and vigilance

空间使用、流动性和警惕性的行为生态学

• 批准号: 213-2010
• 负责人: Kramer, Donald
• 金额: $ 1.89万
• 依托单位: McGill University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2010-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=449061
• 关键词: Behavioural; ecology; space; use; mobility

We propose to examine the possible role of small but highly aggressive damselfish in favoring the growth of algae that may inhibit the recovery of coral reefs. Damselfish could play such a role because they feed on algae and permit its growth in their territories by chasing away other herbivores such as parrotfish and sea urchins. Algae compete for space with corals and can smother the juvenile corals or prevent them from starting to grow at all. The study will 1) examine field data from Barbados, West Indies, on changes in the abundance of other herbivores in response to gradual reductions in damselfish density, 2) compare the abundance of corals, algae, herbivorous fish, and sea urchins in areas where damselfish were previous removed and have recovered to different degrees, and 3) use simulation models to examine the theoretical conditions under which damselfish could prevent the recovery of coral.

我们建议研究小但具有高度攻击性的雀鲷在促进藻类生长方面可能发挥的作用，这些藻类可能会抑制珊瑚礁的恢复。小雀鲷可以扮演这样的角色，因为它们以藻类为食，并通过赶走其他食草动物，如鹦嘴鱼和海胆，让藻类在它们的领土上生长。藻类与珊瑚争夺空间，可能会使幼珊瑚窒息或阻止它们开始生长。该研究将1)检查来自巴巴多斯、西印度群岛的实地数据，研究其他食草动物的丰度变化，以应对雀鲷密度的逐渐减少；2)比较珊瑚、藻类、草食性鱼类和海胆的丰度，在雀鲷之前被移除并在不同程度上恢复的地区；3)使用模拟模型来检验雀鲷可能阻止珊瑚恢复的理论条件。