caa a22 4500 477116582 CHVBK 20180405111624.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170330e19961101xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/BF00000497 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/BF00000497 Stochastic determinants of assemblage patterns in coral reef fishes: a quantification by means of two models [Elektronische Daten] [Nigel Waltho, Jurek Kolasa] Synopsis: One perspective emphasizing the importance of stochastic processes in determining coral reef fish assemblages implies that there is little organization in species richness, abundance structure, and spatial distribution. We examine the degree to which this perspective is correct by analyzing distribution of fishes on a collection of patch reefs (Discovery Bay, Jamaica). We ask the question whether these patches accumulate species and individuals in a manner consistent with stochastic expectations. To address this question we use two conceptual models, each permitting a different insight. One assumes that fish are distributed stochastically on patches while the other assumes presence of restrictions on fish distribution due to habitat structure. For each conceptual model we use two types of benchmark: we compare observed patterns to those predicted by theoretical models, and we also compare observed patterns to those obtained from a random reallocation of fish individuals to patches. We found that the conceptual model assuming stochastic processes appeared to provide weaker explanation of patterns than the conceptual model that includes restrictions due to habitat structure. Further, and more importantly, we found that (i) the community is shaped by a mixture of stochastic and non-stochastic mechanisms, and (ii) the stochastic assembly processes decrease in importance for species restricted to fewer microhabitat types and sites. Our study therefore indicates that patches do accumulate individuals and species in a manner consistent with stochastic expectations, however, this applies primarily to the habitat generalists (unrestricted species). By the same token, increased habitat specialization by some species imposes constraints on the stochastic model such that it eventually fails. Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1996 Patch reef nationallicence Spatial distribution nationallicence Island biogeography theory nationallicence Recruitment nationallicence Habitat-based model nationallicence Hierarchy theory nationallicence Habitat template nationallicence Waltho Nigel Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada aut Kolasa Jurek Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada aut Environmental Biology of Fishes Kluwer Academic Publishers; http://www.wkap.nl 47/3(1996-11-01), 255-267 0378-1909 47:3<255 1996 47 10641 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000497 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000497 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Waltho Nigel Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Kolasa Jurek Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8S 4K1, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Environmental Biology of Fishes Kluwer Academic Publishers; http://www.wkap.nl/ 47/3(1996-11-01), 255-267 0378-1909 47:3<255 1996 47 10641 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer