Table 4. Synthesis of results from Figs 2b, 5 and 6 and S3 and S4 Tables, to define three broad types of fish assemblages across the Chagos Archipelago, the sites at which they were found and the corresponding reef benthic characteristics.
Species and benthos listed are the highest abundance/cover and were significant within analyses. Diego Garcia Atoll forereef was an outlier and is not included.
| No. | Fish Species | Reefs | Benthos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| Scarus niger (Scraper) | Salomon | Hard coral | |
| Acanthurus nigrofuscus (Grazer) | - terrace & forereef | Acropora | |
| Hemitaurichthys zoster (Planktivore) | (2 sites) | Soft coral | |
| Cetoscarus ocellatus (Excavator) | Blenheim | Rugosity | |
| 2 | |||
| Scarus niger (Scraper) | Peros Banhos | Dead coral | |
| Lutjanus kasmira (Omnivore) | - lagoon (2 sites) | Rugosity | |
| Cetoscarus ocellatus (Excavator) | Salomon | Turf algae | |
| A. lineatusa (Grazer) | - lagoon | Hard coral | |
| L. gibbus (Omnivore) | Diego Garcia | Acropora | |
| Z. desjardinii (Grazer) | - lagoon | ||
| 3 | |||
| Chlor. strongylocephalos (Excavator) | GCB | Soft coral | |
| Paracanthurus hepatus (Planktivore) | - forereef | CCA | |
| Lethrinus enigmatusa (Omnivore) | Peros Banhos | Macro-algae | |
| Lutjanus bohar (Piscivore) | - forereef | ||
| Lutjanus fulvusa (Omnivore) | - lagoon |
a rare species seen only at 1 reef.