Diel Vertical Migrations of Marine Fishes: an Obligate or Facultative Process?

Neilson, John D.; Perry, R. Ian

doi:10.1016/s0065-2881(08)60200-x

Cited by 264 publications

(263 citation statements)

References 126 publications

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“…Although adherence to a strategy of vertical migration appears to be a prominent feature of young fish behavior under a wide range of hydrological conditions, such behavior does not appear to be fixed, or under the control of a tidal endogenous rhythm (Forward 1988;Forward et al 1998). Rather, polymorphic cohorts may undergo rapid selection for successful strategies, or individual fishes may retain the ability to switch strategies under consistent exogenous cues including tidal velocity and light (Boehlert and Mundy 1988;Neilson and Perry 1990). Although evidence for position maintenance strategies can be intermittent among sites (Forward et al 1998), or slightly modified (from a semidiel to diel pattern, Stephenson and Power 1989), rarely have fish larvae been observed to adopt distinct strategies potentially switching or undergoing selection for tidal versus diel cues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasticity in vertical migration by native and exotic estuarine fishes in a dynamic low‐salinity zone

Bennett

Kimmerer

Burau

2002

Limnology & Oceanography

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We investigated the degree of flexibility in retention strategies of young fishes in the low-salinity zone (LSZ) of the San Francisco Estuary during years of highly variable river flow. We conducted depth-stratified sampling over three full tidal cycles in each year from 1994 to 1996. In 1994, exotic striped bass (Morone saxatilis), native longfin smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys), and exotic yellowfin goby (Acanthogobus flavimanus) migrated tidally, occurring near the surface on flood tides and near the bottom on ebb tides. This strategy may have facilitated retention, because landward residual currents were absent in this drought year. During 1995, this behavior persisted for striped bass and yellowfin goby, even though landward residual currents were present under high river-flow conditions. In moderate river-flow conditions (1996), longfin smelt again migrated tidally, whereas at another station adjacent to shallow bays, longfin smelt, striped bass, and native delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) migrated on a reverse diel cycle, occurring near the surface by day and at depth by night. Reverse diel migration may facilitate horizontal transport and retention. Therefore, young fishes appeared to be behaviorally flexible in different environmental conditions to maximize retention. Vertical migrations may also enhance feeding success because zooplankton prey similarly migrated in the LSZ. Our study underscores the value of interdisciplinary studies in a variety of environmental conditions to decipher the range of organism behaviors promoting transport and retention in optimal habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasticity in vertical migration by native and exotic estuarine fishes in a dynamic low‐salinity zone

Bennett

Kimmerer

Burau

2002

Limnology & Oceanography

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“…Thus, in descending below the thermocline after filling their stomachs, larger mackerel larvae might not only benefit from reduced predation pressure by conspecifics but also by gaining bioenergetic advantages for better survival. However, in a review study on the motivation of vertical migration behavior, Neilson and Perry (1990) discussed the possibilities of a bioenergetic advantage in migrating to cooler water layers. They conclude that even though there exists some evidence for bioenergetic advantages, these advantages do not control vertical migration rather than being a consequence of it.…”

Section: Vertical Distribution Of Atlantic Mackerel Larvaementioning

confidence: 99%

Small-scale patterns in distribution and feeding of Atlantic mackerel ( Scomber scombrus L.) larvae in the Celtic Sea with special regard to intra-cohort cannibalism

Hillgruber

Kloppmann

2001

Helgoland Marine Research

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Short-term variability in vertical distribution and feeding of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) larvae was investigated while tracking a larval patch over a 48-h period. The patch was repeatedly sampled and a total of 12,462 mackerel larvae were caught within the upper 100 m of the water column. Physical parameters were monitored at the same time. Larval length distribution showed a mode in the 3.0 mm standard length (SL) class (mean abundance of 3.0 mm larvae x =75.34 per 100 m 3 , s=34.37). Highest densities occurred at 20-40 m depth. Larvae <5.0 mm SL were highly aggregated above the thermocline, while larvae ≥5.0 mm SL were more dispersed and tended to migrate below the thermocline. Gut contents of 1,177 mackerel larvae (2.9-9.7 mm SL) were analyzed. Feeding incidence, mean number (numerical intensity) and mean dry weight (weight-based intensity) of prey items per larval gut were significantly dependent on larval size. However, while weight-based feeding intensities continued to increase with larval length, numerical intensity peaked at 4-4.9 mm SL, indicating a shift in the larval diet. While first-feeding larvae relied most heavily on copepod nauplii and eggs, larvae ≥5.0 mm SL initiated piscivorous feeding. All identifiable fish larvae were Atlantic mackerel. Thus, the piscivory was cannibalism. Larval feeding incidence and numerical feeding intensities peaked during daytime and were reduced at night. Daily ration estimates for first-feeding mackerel larvae <4.0 mm SL were extremely low x =1.43% body dry weight, but increased dramatically at 5.0 mm SL, i.e., at the onset of cannibalism, reaching >50% body dry weight in larva ≥8.0 mm SL.

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“…For reef Wshes, ecological evidence has demonstrated that passive dispersal alone cannot explain larval distributions (e.g., Leis and Carson-Ewart, 1998). Several studies have focused on early life-history traits (e.g., Doherty et al, 1995) and larval behaviour (e.g., Marliave, 1986;Miller and Shanks, 2004;Neilson and Perry, 1990) and tried to correlate them to dispersal potential. It would be interesting to understand if a coast with the range (ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic structure and historical demography of the shanny Lipophrys pholis in the Portuguese coast based on mitochondrial DNA analysis

Francisco

Vieira

Almada

2006

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

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Diel Vertical Migrations of Marine Fishes: an Obligate or Facultative Process?

Cited by 264 publications

References 126 publications

Plasticity in vertical migration by native and exotic estuarine fishes in a dynamic low‐salinity zone

Plasticity in vertical migration by native and exotic estuarine fishes in a dynamic low‐salinity zone

Small-scale patterns in distribution and feeding of Atlantic mackerel ( Scomber scombrus L.) larvae in the Celtic Sea with special regard to intra-cohort cannibalism

Genetic structure and historical demography of the shanny Lipophrys pholis in the Portuguese coast based on mitochondrial DNA analysis

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