caa a22 4500 606228373 CHVBK 20210128101203.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151101xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s10641-015-0427-z doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s10641-015-0427-z Ecology and niche specialization of two bonefish species in Hawai‘i [Elektronische Daten] [Mary Donovan, Alan Friedlander, Kimberlee Harding, Eva Schemmel, Alexander Filous, Keith Kamikawa, Natalie Torkelson] Bonefishes are a cryptic species complex that are a prized sportfish in many places around the world. In Hawai‘i they have a long history of use and today have important recreational, and cultural value. In the early 1980s, two distinct species of bonefishes were determined to inhabit Hawaiian waters (Albula glossodonta "round jaw”, and A. virgata "sharp jaw”). Little is known about the life histories of these two species, hindering population assessments and relevant fisheries management guidelines. In addition, no ecological studies have been conducted to examine interactions or separation between these species. This research assesses how differences in size, abundance, diet, growth, reproduction, and habitat preference of the two bonefish species in Hawai‘i can explain the coexistence and persistence of these two closely related species. Differences in size structure, growth rates, and spawning patterns for each species provides species-specific life history information that differentiates them ecologically and is useful for population assessments and in developing species-specific management strategies. We found that the wide-ranging species, A. glossodonta had a larger mean size, length at a given weight, and size at maturity than the endemic, A. virgata. We found differences in prey preferences between the two species that support our hypothesis that differences in jaw morphologies and habitat preferences translate to dissimilarities in diet. This study contributes to our knowledge about these species and provides an example of niche specialization in two closely related and cohabiting species. Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht, 2015 Bonefishes nationallicence Life history nationallicence Niche specialization nationallicence Hawai‘i nationallicence Donovan Mary Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Friedlander Alan Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Harding Kimberlee Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Schemmel Eva Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Filous Alexander Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Kamikawa Keith Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Torkelson Natalie Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut Environmental Biology of Fishes Springer Netherlands 98/11(2015-11-01), 2159-2171 0378-1909 98:11<2159 2015 98 10641 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-015-0427-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-015-0427-z text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Donovan Mary Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Friedlander Alan Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Harding Kimberlee Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Schemmel Eva Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Filous Alexander Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Kamikawa Keith Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Torkelson Natalie Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, Department of Biology, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, 96822, Honolulu, HI, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Environmental Biology of Fishes Springer Netherlands 98/11(2015-11-01), 2159-2171 0378-1909 98:11<2159 2015 98 10641