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TROPHIC ECOLOGY

Specialization boosts reef fish functional diversity

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 3, pages 153–154 (2019)Cite this article

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Rapid evolution of morphological variations is shown to be linked to positions of coral reef fishes at trophic-web extremes. This finding suggests that current fishing practices on coral reefs that target top predators and seaweed-grazing fishes may undermine the potential for future species diversification.

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Fig. 1: Evolution of functional diversity across reef fish trophic groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Macroecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Mariana G. Bender

  2. Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia

    Osmar J. Luiz

Authors
  1. Mariana G. Bender
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  2. Osmar J. Luiz
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Correspondence to Mariana G. Bender.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Bender, M.G., Luiz, O.J. Specialization boosts reef fish functional diversity. Nat Ecol Evol 3, 153–154 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0760-7

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