Patterns of cleaner wrasse density among three regions of the Pacific

Despite years of studies, cleaning interactions between cleaner and host fi shes are still not well understood. Relating density of cleaner wrasse with fish species richness, density and biomass across different geographic loc alities may help to better understand cleaner/host fish relationships. in t his study, we explored the patterns of variation in cleaner wrasse densitie s among 3 regions of the Pacific. An increasing gradient of cleaner wrasse density was observed from Ouvea (West Pacific) to Tuamotu (Central Pacific) . This increasing density followed a decreasing gradient in the density of other reef fishes. Within each locality, densities of cleaner wrasse were p ositively correlated with densities of reef fishes. In order to better unde rstand the underlying influences on the density of cleaner wrasse, the dens ities of reef fishes were examined in relationship to fish body size, fish sedentary, territorial and mobile behavior, and gregariousness. We showed t hat there is no relationship between the density of cleaner wrasse and host fish sedentary, territorial or mobile behavior, but that there are positiv e relationships with both host fish body size and host gregariousness. We h ypothesize that the positive relationships are closely linked with fish ect oparasite loads.