Using passive acoustic telemetry to infer mortality events in adult herbivorous coral reef fishes

Khan, J.A., Welsh, J.Q., and Bellwood, D.R. (2016) Using passive acoustic telemetry to infer mortality events in adult herbivorous coral reef fishes. Coral Reefs, 35 (2). pp. 411-420.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00338-015-138...
 
16
1


Abstract

Mortality is considered to be an important factor shaping the structure of coral reef fish communities, but data on the rate and nature of mortality of adult coral reef fishes are sparse. Mortality on coral reefs is intrinsically linked with predation, with most evidence suggesting that predation is highest during crepuscular periods. We tested this hypothesis using passive acoustic telemetry data to determine the time of day of potential mortality events (PMEs) of adult herbivorous reef fishes. A total of 94 fishes were tagged with acoustic transmitters, of which 43 exhibited a PME. Furthermore, we identified five categories of PMEs based on the nature of change in acoustic signal detections from tagged fishes. The majority of PMEs were characterised by an abrupt stop in detections, possibly as a result of a large, mobile predator. Overall, mortality rates were estimated to be approximately 59 % per year using passive acoustic telemetry. The time of day of PMEs suggests that predation was highest during the day and crepuscular periods and lowest at night, offering only partial support for the crepuscular predation hypothesis. Visually oriented, diurnal and crepuscular predators appear to be more important than their nocturnal counterparts in terms of predation on adult reef fishes. By timing PMEs, passive acoustic telemetry may offer an important new tool for investigating the nature of predation on coral reefs.

Item ID: 48430
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1432-0975
Keywords: mortality, reef fishes, predation, acoustic telemetry
Funders: Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation (LIRRF), Australian Museum (AM), Australian Research Council (ARC)
Projects and Grants: AM Lizard Island Doctoral Fellowship
Date Deposited: 17 May 2017 00:47
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page