Habitat Selection and Space Partitioning among two Mediterranean Blenniid Species

Abstract. The utilization of the spatial resources of two syntopic blenniid species - Blennius cunevue and Blennius incognitas - has been investigated in silu and under laboratory conditions. Both species occupy bore holes of the mussel Lithophugu in the sublittoral zone. B. cunevue dominates the more shallow zone (= 0.68 m) and prefers smaller (= 12.76 mm diameter) and horizontal bore holes. B. incognitus inhabits the same depth range as B. cunevue but occupies larger bore holes (= 14.57 mm) in a deeper zone (= 0.86 m). Individuals of B. incognitus do not prefer a special inclination angle. The two blenniid species defend territories with different intraspecific sizes: the mean territory radius of B. cunevue is 6.87 mm, of B. incognitus = 10.95. Mechanisms to reduce competition include different activity rhythm, interspecific social dominance, and differences in territoriality. B. cunevue is the dominant species; its territories arc defended against conspecifics and against B. incognitus.