title: Convict cichlids benefit from close proximity to another species of cichlid fish.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland. topi.lehtonen@sci.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Topi K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lehtonen