Presettlement schooling behaviour of a rocky fish in a shallow area. Is it related to local environmental conditions?

Abstract

<jats:p>This study evaluates the swimming behaviour of pre-settled fish larvae of the triplefin Helcogrammoides chil­ensis (Tripterygiidae) in relation to local environmental conditions. Larval aggregations were recorded on rocky reefs off central Chile during the austral summer of 2014 and 2016 to describe their swimming behaviour (i.e. solitary, shoaling, schooling) and relate it to in situ water temperature, wind stress, wind speed and turbulence. Shoaling and solitary behaviour were influenced only by wind-induced turbulence in 2014 and by seawater temperature and wind stress in 2016. Schooling behaviour was not influenced by any of the environmental variables. In situ swimming behaviour of fish larvae has been little investigated, and this work proposes a non-invasive in situ methodology for studying fish larval behaviour.</jats:p>

Long-Term Monitoring of Diel and Seasonal Rhythm of Dentex dentex at an Artificial Reef

“…Grouping has been already broadly correlated to the environmental variation in previous works for different fish species (Félix-Hackradt et al, 2010;Meager et al, 2012;Georgiadis et al, 2014;Palacios-Fuentes et al, 2020). In particular, the formation of fish groups has been related to light intensity (Meager et al, 2012;Georgiadis et al, 2014) and to water temperature (Power et al, 2000;Davoren et al, 2006;Meager et al, 2012;Palacios-Fuentes et al, 2020). Also, the weak increase of grouping behavior reported across consecutive years of observations (see Supplementary Figure 8) is likely the result of the increasing abundance of this species in the OBSEA area (see also previous Section).…”

“…The grouping behavior of Dentex was associated to solar irradiance and water temperature. Grouping has been already broadly correlated to the environmental variation in previous works for different fish species (Félix-Hackradt et al, 2010;Meager et al, 2012;Georgiadis et al, 2014;Palacios-Fuentes et al, 2020). In particular, the formation of fish groups has been related to light intensity (Meager et al, 2012;Georgiadis et al, 2014) and to water temperature (Power et al, 2000;Davoren et al, 2006;Meager et al, 2012;Palacios-Fuentes et al, 2020).…”

Perspectives on Larval Behaviour in Biophysical Modelling of Larval Dispersal in Marine, Demersal Fishes

“…So, in such species, this behaviour may be more related to what the larvae do after, rather than before, they settle [31]. However in two species, larvae are schooling before fins are completely formed, and a recent study reports aggregation by settlement-stage larvae of a cryptobenthic species (a Chilean tripterygiid [61]). Furthermore, genetic or otolith microchemistry evidence implies group dispersal over the full PLD in some situations in two species (a Red Sea pomacentrid, genus Neopomacentrus, that schools post settlement [62], and a New Zealand cryptobenthic tripterygiid [63]), indicating that a wider variety of species might have aggregating larvae than previously thought.…”

Technologically-sustained ecological monitoring of a coastal fish community with a highly integrated biological and environmental data

“…The grouping behaviour of Dentex was associated to solar irradiance and water temperature. Grouping has been already broadly correlated to the environmental variation in previous works for different fish species [116], [117], [216], [217]. In particular, the formation of fish groups has been related to light intensity [116], [117] and to water temperature [116], [217]- [219].…”

“…Grouping has been already broadly correlated to the environmental variation in previous works for different fish species [116], [117], [216], [217]. In particular, the formation of fish groups has been related to light intensity [116], [117] and to water temperature [116], [217]- [219]. Also, the weak increase of grouping behaviour reported across consecutive years of observations (see Appendix L) is likely the result of the increasing abundance of this species in the OBSEA area (see also previous Section).…”