INTERFERENCE BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF THREESPOT DAMSELFISH (EUPOMACENTRUS-PLANIFRONS)

Interference behavior by threespot damselfish directed at the sea urchins, Diadema antillarum and Echinometra viridis, differed in levels of aggression and discrimination. Higher aggression towards and recognition of Diadema by threespots was correlated with the distribution of Diadema along edges of coral patches. Lower aggression levels combined with lower recognition levels of Echinometra were correlated with a distribution of Echinometra closer to damselfish algal lawns. Differences in behavior of the urchins stimulated differing levels of aggression by the damselfish directly affecting the distribution of the urchins in the back-reef environment. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.