Increasing ocean temperatures and the resulting poleward range shifts of species has highlighted the importance of a species preferred temperature and thermal range in shaping ecological communities. Understanding the temperatures preferred and avoided by individual species, and how these are influenced by species interactions is critical in predicting the future trajectories of populations, assemblages, and ecosystems. Using an automated shuttlebox system, we established the preferred temperature and upper and lower threshold temperatures (i.e., avoided temperatures) of a common coral reef fish, the black-axil chromis, Chromis atripectoralis. We then investigated how the presence of conspecifics, heterospecifics (Neopomacentrus bankieri), or a predator (Cephalopholis spiloparaea) influenced the selection of these temperatures. Control C. atripectoralis preferred 27.5 ± 1.0 °C, with individuals avoiding temperatures below 23.5 ± 0.9 °C and above 29.7 ± 0.7 °C. When associating with either conspecifics or heterospecifics, C. atripectoralis selected significantly lower temperatures (conspecifics: preferred = 21.2 ± 1.4 °C, lower threshold = 18.1 ± 0.8 °C; heterospecifics: preferred = 21.1 ± 1.1 °C, lower threshold = 19.2 ± 0.9 °C), but not higher temperatures (conspecifics: preferred = 28.9 ± 1.2 °C, upper threshold = 30.8 ± 0.9 °C; heterospecifics: preferred = 29.7 ± 1.1 °C, upper threshold = 31.4 ± 0.8 °C). The presence of the predator, however, had a significant effect on both lower and upper thresholds. Individual C. atripectoralis exposed themselves to temperatures ~ 5.5 °C cooler or warmer (lower threshold: 18.6 ± 0.5 °C, upper threshold: 35.2 ± 0.5 °C) than control fish before moving into the chamber containing the predator. These findings demonstrate how behavioural responses due to species interactions influence the thermal ecology of a tropical reef fish; however, there appears to be limited scope for individuals to tolerate higher temperatures unless faced with the risk of predation.

不断升高的海洋温度以及由此引起的物种极点范围变化，凸显了物种偏爱的温度和热范围对塑造生态群落的重要性。了解单个物种喜欢和避免的温度，以及物种之间的相互作用如何影响这些温度，对于预测种群，集合体和生态系统的未来轨迹至关重要。通过使用自动穿梭箱系统，我们确定了普通珊瑚礁鱼黑轴生色鱼Chromis atripectoralis的首选温度以及上，下阈值温度（即避免的温度）。然后，我们调查了物种，异种物种（Neopomacentrus bankieri）或捕食者（头孢菌（Cephalopholis spiloparaea）影响了这些温度的选择。对照桔梗梭菌优选27.5±1.0°C，个体避免温度低于23.5±0.9°C和高于29.7±0.7°C。当与同种或异种相关联时，木霉C.atripectoralis选择的温度要低得多（同种：优选= 21.2±1.4°C，较低阈值= 18.1±0.8°C;异种：优选= 21.1±1.1°C，较低阈值= 19.2± 0.9°C），但不是更高的温度（规格：优选= 28.9±1.2°C，上限= 30.8±0.9°C;杂种：优选= 29.7±1.1°C，上限= 31.4±0.8°C）。但是，掠食者的存在对上下限都有重大影响。个人在移入装有捕食者的小室之前，沙门氏菌将自身暴露在比对照鱼低约5.5°C的温度下（较低阈值：18.6±0.5°C，较高阈值：35.2±0.5°C）。这些发现表明，由于物种相互作用而产生的行为反应如何影响热带礁鱼的热生态。但是，除非面对被捕食的风险，否则个体耐受高温的范围似乎有限。