ABSTRACT
In 1999, John Thompson wrote that, ‘the history of evolution and biodiversity is fundamentally a history of the evolution of species interaction. Species living in pure isolation simply don’t make sense’ (Thompson, 1999). Indeed, most living organisms depend on one or more species if they are to survive and reproduce. Interspecific interactions occur through processes such as predation, competition, mimicry and symbioses. Moreover, it has long been recognised that interspecific interactions provide a framework for functional ecosystems, determines the abundance of populations, and increases biodiversity (Gause and Witt, 1935; Thompson, 1996). For the family Blenniidae, interspecific interactions have a marked effect on the behaviour, physiology, distribution and abundance of individuals, and since blennies reside in
almost every underwater environment imaginable-from depths of over 100 m, freshwater rivers, coral reefs, and intertidal environmentsblennies interact with a wide variety of species for many different purposes. This chapter provides an overview of some of these interactions.
