Patterns of variation in behaviour within and among reef fish species on an isolated tropical island: influence of exposure and substratum

Krajewski, João Paulo, Floeter, Sergio R., Jones, Geoffrey P., and Leite, Fosca P.P (2011) Patterns of variation in behaviour within and among reef fish species on an isolated tropical island: influence of exposure and substratum. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 91 (Special Issue 6). pp. 1359-1368.

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Abstract

Here we studied the activity budgets of nine common reef fish in the oceanic archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, off north-east Brazil. Species were variable in their behaviour between different sites and similarities in their activity budgets were not necessarily associated with their trophic group. For four species we investigated the relationship of their activity budgets to wave exposure and substratum composition. Staying close to the substratum was positively correlated to wave exposure for most species and foraging was negatively correlated to exposure for two species. By behaving this way, these fish may save energy by avoiding swimming in higher water flux. In contrast to relationships with wave exposure, the responses to substratum composition were species specific. Our results highlight that the activity budgets of fish living in oceanic rocky reefs can be variable and influenced by the local and temporal variation in environmental variables.

Item ID: 18774
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1469-7769
Keywords: spatial variation, activity budget, wave exposure, substratum composition, reef fish, Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil
Date Deposited: 29 Sep 2011 06:55
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology) @ 60%
06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060201 Behavioural Ecology @ 20%
05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050202 Conservation and Biodiversity @ 20%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 60%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9613 Remnant Vegetation and Protected Conservation Areas > 961303 Protected Conservation Areas in Marine Environments @ 20%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences @ 20%
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