Our new meta-analysis reveals a startling pattern: the strength of density dependence in reef fish survival varies by orders of magnitude—even within the same species. While predators amplify crowding effects by over 1500%, most variation remains unexplained, suggesting that context-specific factors we rarely measure may be just as important as the biological mechanisms we study.

Symbiont cooperation protects corals under stress

Patchy landscapes don't require variation in quality to drive spatial patterns

Expert perceptions drive conservation conflict

Dispersal differences drive variation in food web biogeography

Predation Drives Assembly in Patchy Landscapes