310 Biology of Butterflyfishes CHAPTER 13 Butterflyfishes as a Model Group for Reef Fish Ecology: Important and Emerging Research Topics Morgan S. Pratchett, 1,a, * Karen M. Chong-Seng, 1,b David A. Feary, 2 Andrew S. Hoey, 1,c Christopher J. Fulton, 3 Jessica P. Nowicki, 1,d Adam K. Dewan, 4 Stefan P.W. Walker 1,e and Michael L. Berumen 5 INTRODUCTION In his preface to a special issue (and dedicated workshop) on the biology of butterflyfishes, Motta (1989) suggested that butterflyfishes have received disproportionate scientific attention compared to other common and conspicuous families of coral reef fishes. In support of this assertion, the number of scientific publications that consider butterflyfishes (ISI Web of Knowledge; 382 publications since 1927) is far greater than for many other families of nominal reef fishes (e.g., angelfishes, surgeonfishes, and rabbitfishes); the only families that have been more intensively studied are the Pomacentridae (damselfishes), Serranidae (groupers) and Labridae (parrotfishes and wrasses), which probably reflects their high diversity, commercial and functional importance, respectively. In this respect, research on butterflyfishes has contributed greatly to general understanding of the Authors’ affiliations given at the end of the chapter.