title: With a Little Help from My Friends: Group Orientation by Larvae of a Coral Reef Fish.
abstract: Theory and some empirical evidence suggest that groups of animals orient better than isolated individuals. We present the first test of this hypothesis for pelagic marine larvae, at the stage of settlement, when orientation is critical to find a habitat. We compare the in situ behaviour of individuals and groups of 10-12 Chromis atripectoralis (reef fish of the family Pomacentridae), off Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef. Larvae are observed by divers or with a drifting image recording device. With both methods, groups orient cardinally while isolated individuals do not display significant orientation. Groups also swim on a 15% straighter course (i.e. are better at keeping a bearing) and 7% faster than individuals. A body of observations collected in this study suggest that enhanced group orientation emerges from simple group dynamics rather than from the presence of more skilful leaders.
authors.affiliation: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149-1098, United States of America.|Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire d'Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Olivier
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Irisson
authors.affiliation: Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149-1098, United States of America.
authors.forename: Claire B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.affiliation: Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2010 Australia.|Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Leis
authors.affiliation: Australian Museum Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2010 Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Yerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D057894:Coral Reefs; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010473:Perciformes / Q000502:physiology*; D013550:Swimming / Q000502:physiology