Behavioural ecology of space use, mobility, and vigilance

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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.