Importance of visual cues of conspecifics and predators during the habitat selection of coral reef fish larvae.
The study investigated visual recognition of conspecifics and predators by settlement-stage coral reef fish larvae in a set of three experiments using a dual-choice aquarium (Moorea Island). Experiments 1 and 2 were conducted under artificial light conditions. Experiment 3 was conducted under natural light during new and full moon nights. In experiment 1, five out of six species preferred conspecifics rather than heterospecifics (Acanthurus triostegus, Chromis viridis, Ostorhinchus angustatus, Stegastes fasciolatus, Valenciaenna strigata). In experiment 2, three out of six species were repulsed by predators (Mulloidichtys flavolineatus, O. angustatus, V. strigata). In experiment 3 (conducted on one species), A. triostegus was attracted to conspecifics during bright nights, but did not show such behavior during dark nights. Our study raises the question of trade-off for fish larvae to settle during the night with high light intensities to favor the visual recognition of conspecifics and predators, or during darker nights to reduce reef predation.
Laboratoire d'excellence "CORAIL", CRIOBE, BP 1013, Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia; USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE, CRIOBE, Moorea, French Polynesia. Electronic address: lecchini@univ-perp.fr.
David
D
Lecchini
USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE, CRIOBE, Moorea, French Polynesia.
Kevin
K
Peyrusse
Institute of Marine Resources, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji; Institute for Pacific Coral Reefs, IPCR, Moorea, French Polynesia.
Rynae Greta
RG
Lanyon
Laboratoire d'excellence "CORAIL", CRIOBE, BP 1013, Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia; University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Versailles, France.
Gaël
G
Lecellier
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D057894:Coral Reefs; D003463:Cues; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology*; D008029:Lighting; D016081:Moon; D010473:Perciformes; D011114:Polynesia; D011235:Predatory Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
Comportement du poisson; Fish behavior; Habitat selection; Moorea; Moorea Island; Predation risk; Risque de prédation; Settlement cues; Signaux sensoriels; Sélection de l’habitat