Reference | Hixon. M.A. and M.H. Carr. 1997. Synergistic predation, density dependence, and population regulation in marine fish. Science 277: 946-949. |
Abstract | Understanding natural causes of density dependence is essential for identifying possible sources of population regulation. Field experiments on a model system of coral reef fishes showed that small juveniles of Chromis cyanea suffer heavy mortality that is spatially density-dependent only in the presence of two suites of predators: transient piscivores attacking from above, and reef-resident piscivores attacking from below. In the absence of either kind of predator, early mortality of Chromis is virtually density-independent. Because piscivores may have regulatory roles in this and similar marine systems, over fishing these predators may have ramifications for the remainder of the exploited community. |
Tag | Visible Implant Elastomer (VIE) |
Objective | Population estimates |