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TROPHIC ECOLOGY

Specialization boosts reef fish functional diversity

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Rapid evolution of morphological variations is shown to be linked to positions of coral reef fishes at trophic-web extremes. This finding suggests that current fishing practices on coral reefs that target top predators and seaweed-grazing fishes may undermine the potential for future species diversification.

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Fig. 1: Evolution of functional diversity across reef fish trophic groups.

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Correspondence to Mariana G. Bender.

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Bender, M.G., Luiz, O.J. Specialization boosts reef fish functional diversity. Nat Ecol Evol 3, 153–154 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-018-0760-7

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