Reef Sound as an Orientation Cue for Shoreward Migration by Pueruli of the Rock Lobster, Jasus edwardsii.
The post-larval or puerulus stage of spiny, or rock, lobsters (Palinuridae) swim many kilometres from open oceans into coastal waters where they subsequently settle. The orientation cues used by the puerulus for this migration are unclear, but are presumed to be critical to finding a place to settle. Understanding this process may help explain the biological processes of dispersal and settlement, and be useful for developing realistic dispersal models. In this study, we examined the use of reef sound as an orientation cue by the puerulus stage of the southern rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii. Experiments were conducted using in situ binary choice chambers together with replayed recording of underwater reef sound. The experiment was conducted in a sandy lagoon under varying wind conditions. A significant proportion of puerulus (69%) swam towards the reef sound in calm wind conditions. However, in windy conditions (>25 m s-1) the orientation behaviour appeared to be less consistent with the inclusion of these results, reducing the overall proportion of pueruli that swam towards the reef sound (59.3%). These results resolve previous speculation that underwater reef sound is used as an orientation cue in the shoreward migration of the puerulus of spiny lobsters, and suggest that sea surface winds may moderate the ability of migrating pueruli to use this cue to locate coastal reef habitat to settle. Underwater sound may increase the chance of successful settlement and survival of this valuable species.
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Nubeena Crescent, Taroona, Tasmania, 7053, Australia.|Universidad Católica del Norte, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Departamento de Biología Marina, Coquimbo, Chile.|Millennium Nucleus for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands, Coquimbo, Chile.
Ivan A
IA
Hinojosa
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Nubeena Crescent, Taroona, Tasmania, 7053, Australia.
Bridget S
BS
Green
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Nubeena Crescent, Taroona, Tasmania, 7053, Australia.
Caleb
C
Gardner
Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, P.O. Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand.
Jan
J
Hesse
Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, P.O. Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand.
Jenni A
JA
Stanley
Leigh Marine Laboratory, Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, P.O. Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand.
Andrew G
AG
Jeffs
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D057894:Coral Reefs; D003463:Cues; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D000072458:Orientation, Spatial / Q000502:physiology*; D033521:Palinuridae / Q000502:physiology*; D013016:Sound; D014919:Wind