Structure of fish communities of French Polynesian coral reefs. I. Spatial scales

Patterns of fish distribution in French Polynesia were studied at several spatial scales: a single transect (with 280 species, 22 stations), on Moorea Island; several transects on the same island (171 species, 14 stations) and transects from 5 islands including Moorea (189 species, 10 stations). There were significant variations in abundance, richness and composition of species among sites within the single transect. There were also variations among similar habitats withln one island and among islands. Differences among similar sites around one island were, however, small compared to variation across one transect at the same island. Possible explanations for these patterns are discussed.