title: The short-lived neon damsel Pomacentrus coelestis: implications for population dynamics.
abstract: Daily increments of Pomacentrus coelestis, an abundant and well-studied fish, were validated for the life of the fish and depending on the location, age-maxima were estimated to be 127-160 days on reefs separated by tens to hundreds of kilometres on the Great Barrier Reef. This contrasts with congeners and other damselfishes that live for 5 years or more. Otoliths of P. coelestis were thinner and had different patterns of banding when compared with relatively long-lived congeners. It is suggested that banding patterns in P. coelestis may be related to patterns of maturation and spawning. The consequences of a short life would have a great influence on the population dynamics of this widespread species. Further, the demographics and habitat preferences of this species suggest rapid colonization and establishment of breeding populations that would quickly change the relative abundance of sympatric fishes.
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kingsford
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and Marine Biology and Aquaculture, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: O'Callaghan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, 0745, New Zealand.|The Auckland War Memorial Museum, Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liggins
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biology and Environmental Science, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerlach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D008136:Longevity; D010037:Otolithic Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010473:Perciformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics
keywords: Pomacentridae; age; age structure; coral-reef-fish; otolith; population-dynamics