Interactions between Plagiotremus spp., Labroides dimidiatus and their clients: evidence for behavioural niche partitioning.

ABSTRACT

This study employed community analysis and behavioural field observations to explore the inter-specific interactions between fangblenny species (Plagiotremus spp.), the cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus and their target species and found that the presence of Plagiotremus spp. did not affect the total amount that L. dimidiatus cleaned but it did reduce the amount L. dimidiatus cleaned key prey species of the Plagiotremus spp. The behavioural interactions between adult L. dimidiatus and their clients changed in response to the presence of Plagiotremus spp., but the results suggested the potential cost of Plagiotremus spp. on L. dimidiatus may be offset by behavioural niche partitioning.