Convict cichlids benefit from close proximity to another species of cichlid fish.
The coexistence of species with overlapping resource use is often thought to involve only negative fitness effects as a consequence of interspecific competition. Furthermore, the scarce empirical research on positive species interactions has predominantly focused on sessile organisms. Here, I experimentally assessed the effect of close proximity of a potential brood predator and competitor on reproductive success of a neotropical cichlid fish. I demonstrate that convict cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) broods have a higher survival rate near territories of the Nicaragua cichlid (Hypsophrys nicaraguensis), and that escape from predation and nest takeovers is the most likely explanation for the decreased offspring mortality.
Lehtonen
Topi K
TK
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. topi.lehtonen@sci.monash.edu.au