Complexity in a facilitative behavior web of piscivores and associated species at Isla del Coco National Park (Eastern Tropical Pacific)

This study investigates the role of facilitative behavioral interactions in mixed-species hunting groups of piscivores at Isla del Coco National Park, Eastern Tropical Pacific. Data on species composition, numbers, and behavioral interactions were collected and analyzed using multivariate and network analyses to quantify pairwise and guild-level relationships. Results revealed consistent patterns of association within a set of dominant species (10 of 32 species) in the shallow fish community (to 80m depth). These collective behaviors are a common attribute of this functional guild. Simulating overfishing by removing dominant species from the network model significantly reduced the number of pairwise linkages (57% reduction). The identified patterns, assuming persistence, can be used as a baseline for time-series monitoring to assess changes in ecological interactions within the higher trophic level guild. Further research is needed to understand the temporal dynamics of network linkages and interaction intensity as prey resources fluctuate, which could inform the nature of multispecies interactions within predator communities and aid in conservation and management

Biology · Fishing · Food web · Forage fish · Geography · Guild · Habitat · National park · Overfishing · Predation · Species richness · Trophic level · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Marine animal studies overview · Plant and animal studies · Ecology