title: Damselfish as keystone species in reverse: intermediate disturbance and diversity of reef algae.
abstract: Substrates located within the defended territories of Hawaiian damselfish for 1 year were subjected to intermediate grazing intensity and, as a result, showed greater diversity of algae than substrates either protected within fish-exclusion cages or exposed to intense fish grazing outside territories. Thus, this damselfish enhances local diversity on reefs through "intermediate-disturbance" effects, and is a keystone species that decreases rather than increases overall predation intensity relative to areas where it is absent.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hixon
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Brostoff