Data from: Site-level field of view is associated with altered anti-predator responses in farming damselfish

The three-dimensional (3D) structure of habitats influences how prey
detect and respond to predators, but the specific roles of different
aspects of structural complexity remain poorly understood, particularly in
coral reef ecosystems. We used 3D models of three Caribbean reef sites to
quantify three structural metrics at site-level: field of view (the extent
of observable area), refuge density (density of holes), and rugosity (reef
surface roughness). We then observed the anti-predator behaviour of
damselfish, parrotfish, and wrasses at each site. Refuge density was
similar across sites, likely reflecting long-term regional loss of
fine-scale complexity in the Caribbean. Territorial damselfish showed
species-specific responses to habitat structure, especially in relation to
field of view. Stegastes adustus, for example, exhibited shorter flight
initiation distances (FIDs) at the site with the highest field of view,
consistent with expectations from optimal escape theory. In contrast,
wrasse and parrotfish species showed little variation in behaviour across
sites, though larger individuals tended to have longer FIDs and flight
distances. While rugosity is widely used as a proxy for reef complexity,
our results suggest that field of view may be more strongly associated
with differences in anti-predator behaviour, particularly in damselfish.
These findings highlight the need to assess multiple dimensions of habitat
structure, as even closely related species may exhibit distinct
behavioural adaptations to their 3D environment.