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The disruption of habitat isolation among three Hexagrammos species by artificial habitat alterations that create mosaic‐habitat

The disruption of habitat isolation among three Hexagrammos species by artificial habitat... In the coastal areas of Japan, three species of greenling (Hexagrammos spp.) can hybridize. In a natural reef setting we showed that Hexagrammos agrammus and H. octogrammus established their breeding territories in a shallow area where seaweed was abundant, whereas H. otakii established breeding territories in a deep area that was sparsely covered with seaweed. This difference in habitat use resulted in H. otakii being distributed separately from the other two species, thereby reducing the potential for hybridization. However, all the three species co‐occurred in an artificial area near a breakwater. This area is characterized by steep slopes and complex stacked concrete structures, which create a mosaic‐habitat consisting of a shallow environment with seaweed and a deep environment with sparse seaweed, allowing the three species to breed within a single area. Our results suggest that man‐made structures can create an artificial mosaic‐habitat that can disrupt habitat isolation and promote hybridization between species. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Ecological Research Wiley

The disruption of habitat isolation among three Hexagrammos species by artificial habitat alterations that create mosaic‐habitat

Kimura, Motoko R.; Munehara, Hiroyuki
Ecological Research , Volume 25 (1) – Jan 1, 2010
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References (43)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© The Ecological Society of Japan
ISSN
0912-3814
eISSN
1440-1703
DOI
10.1007/s11284-009-0624-3
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In the coastal areas of Japan, three species of greenling (Hexagrammos spp.) can hybridize. In a natural reef setting we showed that Hexagrammos agrammus and H. octogrammus established their breeding territories in a shallow area where seaweed was abundant, whereas H. otakii established breeding territories in a deep area that was sparsely covered with seaweed. This difference in habitat use resulted in H. otakii being distributed separately from the other two species, thereby reducing the potential for hybridization. However, all the three species co‐occurred in an artificial area near a breakwater. This area is characterized by steep slopes and complex stacked concrete structures, which create a mosaic‐habitat consisting of a shallow environment with seaweed and a deep environment with sparse seaweed, allowing the three species to breed within a single area. Our results suggest that man‐made structures can create an artificial mosaic‐habitat that can disrupt habitat isolation and promote hybridization between species.

Journal

Ecological Research – Wiley

Published: Jan 1, 2010

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