Differential persistence favors habitat preferences that determine the distribution of a reef fish

Abstract

Baby reef fish have great taste when choosing a home. For most coral reef fishes, babies hatch as tiny larvae that develop offshore before returning to choose a home on the reef. Using experimental and observational approaches, we show that baby sponge-dwelling neon gobies use visual cues to choose sponge homes that will improve their chances of persistence. Ultimately, these choices result in the distribution of neon gobies on the reef.