Environmental drivers of sheltering behaviour in large reef fishes
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
Studies of shelter use can provide key insights into the ecology, and structural needs of mobile organisms. Using videos, we examined the usage of tabular corals by large reef fishes, over a 10 week period, compared to multiple environmental drivers: visibility, tide (and depth), irradiance, wind speed (as a proxy for wave energy) and water temperature. We found that two of these predictor variables (visibility and wind speed) had a significant effect and together accounted for almost half of the variation in tabular coral usage by fishes. Increases in both variables correlated with increased shelter use. To date use of shelters by fishes has primarily been attributed to UV avoidance. Our results support this notion as more turbid conditions (reduced visibility) have an attenuating effect on UV irradiance. Additionally, tabular corals may reduce the energetic costs of increased wave energy by reducing incidental water velocity beneath the structure.
Journal
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Publication Name
N/A
Volume
125
ISBN/ISSN
1879-3363
Edition
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Issue
1-2
Pages Count
6
Location
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Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Url
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Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
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Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.08.037