title: Diel and seasonal movement pattern of the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus inside a marine reserve.
abstract: Temporal movement patterns and spawning behaviour of the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus were investigated using depth and temperature sensors combined to acoustic telemetry. Results showed that these fish are year-round resident, remaining inside the fully protected area of the marine reserve of Cerbère-Banyuls (65 ha) and display a diurnal activity pattern. Records from depth sensors revealed that groupers range inside small, distinct, and individual territories. Individual variations in habitat depth are only visible on a seasonal scale, i.e., between the spawning season and the rest of the year. In fact, during summer months when the seawater temperature exceeded 20 °C, tagged groupers made vertical spawning migrations of 4-8 m in amplitude. These vertical migrations are characteristic of the reproductive behaviour of dusky groupers, during which they release their gametes. The results are notable for the implementation of management rules in marine protected areas, such as reduced navigation speed, boating or attendance during spawning season.
authors.affiliation: Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France; CNRS, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France. Electronic address: koeckbarbara@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Koeck
authors.affiliation: Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France; CNRS, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France. Electronic address: jeremypastor66@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.affiliation: CNRS, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France; Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France. Electronic address: saragoni@univ-perp.fr.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saragoni
authors.affiliation: SEANEO, 7 rue de Turenne, F-66000 Perpignan, France. Electronic address: nicolas.dalias@seaneo.com.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dalias
authors.affiliation: Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls, Conseil Général des Pyrénées-Orientales, 5 rue Roger David, F-66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, France. Electronic address: jerome.payrot@cg66.fr.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Payrot
authors.affiliation: Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France; CNRS, CEntre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, UMR 5110, 58 Avenue Paul Alduy, F-66860 Perpignan, France. Electronic address: lenfant@univ-perp.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lenfant
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001492:Bass / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology*; D013686:Telemetry
keywords: Acoustic telemetry; Behaviour; Fish; Gulf of Lion; Mediterranean Sea; Pressure sensors; Spawning behaviour; Temporal variability; Vertical migrations