Ashur Molly M, Dixson Danielle L
School of Marine Science and Policy, University of Delaware, Lewes, USA.
Behav Ecol. 2019 Mar-Apr;30(2):348-355. doi: 10.1093/beheco/ary171. Epub 2018 Dec 15.
Habitat selection is a critical process for animals throughout their life, and adult organisms that travel to forage or mate must reselect habitat frequently. On coral reefs, competition for space has led to a high proportion of habitat specialists. Habitat selection is especially vital for organisms that require specialized habitat; however, research has primarily focused on the initial habitat choice made during the larval/juvenile stage. Here, we analyze habitat selection in the adult sponge-dwelling reef shrimp, . Using a mark-and-recapture technique, belt transects, patch reefs, and cue isolation experiments, this study reveals that adult diurnally reselect habitat and a natural preference exists for specific sponge species and shapes. This natural preference is a function of chemical and morphological cues as well as sponge distribution. As habitat specialists can drive biodiversity, understanding the mechanisms behind habitat selection can inform research and management practices.
栖息地选择是动物一生中的关键过程，前往觅食或交配的成年生物必须频繁重新选择栖息地。在珊瑚礁上，对空间的竞争导致了很大比例的栖息地特化物种。栖息地选择对需要特定栖息地的生物尤为重要；然而，研究主要集中在幼体/幼年期做出的初始栖息地选择上。在这里，我们分析成年栖息于海绵的珊瑚礁虾的栖息地选择。通过标记重捕技术、样带调查、斑块礁和线索隔离实验，本研究表明成年虾每天都会重新选择栖息地，并且对特定的海绵物种和形状存在自然偏好。这种自然偏好是化学和形态线索以及海绵分布的函数。由于栖息地特化物种可以推动生物多样性，了解栖息地选择背后的机制可以为研究和管理实践提供信息。
