Can differences in the structure of larval, juvenile and adult coral‐reef fish assemblages be detected at the family level?

Research reveals that coral-reef fish assemblages exhibit distinct spatial structures at different life stages—larval, juvenile, and adult—even when analyzed at the family level. This finding challenges the assumption that coarse taxonomic resolution obscures critical insights into reef ecology. The study compared fish communities across a coast-to-barrier reef gradient in New Caledonia using standardized surveys from 2004 to 2005. Larvae were sampled via light-traps, while juveniles and adults were assessed through underwater visual counts. Multivariate analyses demonstrated significant variability among life stages, locations, and years, with differences detectable even at the family level. These results suggest that large-scale studies using broad taxonomic categories can effectively capture changes in reef fish spatial structure across life stages.

CARASSOU, L., WANTIEZ, L., PONTON, D., & KULBICKI, M. (2011). Can differences in the structure of larval, juvenile and adult coral‐reef fish assemblages be detected at the family level? Austral Ecology, 37(3), 374–382. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2011.02291.x