Snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) home range dynamics: acoustic tagging studies in a marine reserve

Abstract

The home-range size and location of reef-associated snapper Pagrus auratus: Sparidae were investigated by use of a radio acoustic-positioning telemetry (RAPT) system. Tags were surgically implanted in 5 snapper that were subsequently monitored every minute for a period of 5 mo, and then intermittently over another 7 mo. Site fidelity was high amongst these fish, with home ranges not exceeding 650 m in diameter or 139 600 m 2 in area. Eleven other snapper received tags by feeding and were tracked for periods of up to 2.5 d. Site fidelity was also high for these fish, with standardised estimates of home-range size not differing between the 2 groups. Home ranges overlapped considerably, indicating that the fish were not territorial. The location of the home ranges generally remained stable throughout the entire tracking period, although 1 fish relocated its home range bỹ 220 m. A new method of home-range estimation was developed, which matched the level of detail provided by the RAPT system, to directly estimate the time spent in an area. The relevance of this method and the residential behaviour of these fish are discussed, with reference to the general understanding of animal behaviour, previous investigations into snapper movement, and the selective capacity that may be imposed by marine reserves on fish behaviour.

Rapid recolonisation of snapper Pagrus auratus: Sparidae within an offshore island marine reserve after implementation of no-take status

“…The exclusion zones may have been too small to effectively protect snapper from fishing pressure: tagging studies suggest that some snapper move over moderate distances (>100 km) (Paul 1967), although Parsons et al (2003) found some snapper to have considerable site fidelity (home ranges not exceeding 650 m). This finding is important because recent metaanalyses (e.g.…”

“…These large fish arrive at the Poor Knights because of regular seasonal onshore and offshore movements (Willis et al 2003a). A proportion of these fish take up residence on the reefs, where they may remain in home range areas of less than 300 m diameter (Parsons et al 2003) for more than 4 yr (Willis et al 2001). This idea has been visited by Willis et al (2003a), and is well supported by data at the Poor Knights where fish present had a modal size of 410 mm SL by autumn 2000.…”

Grouper and snapper movements and habitat use in Dry Tortugas, Florida

“…Many marine fishes repeatedly use and move throughout particular areas, or home ranges (Burt 1943), for certain periods of the year or for particular life stages (Goeden 1978, Shapiro et al 1994, Rooij et al 1996, Zeller 1997, Kramer & Chapman 1999, Bell & Kramer 2000, Bolden 2001, Eristhee & Oxenford 2001, Baras et al 2002, Lembo et al 2002, Parsons et al 2003. Occupation by marine fishes of a particular home range within a spatially heterogeneous landscape -given increased familiarity with key habitat features -may facilitate evasion of predators and increase foraging efficiency (review in Harris et al 1990).…”

A review of ecogeochemistry approaches to estimating movements of marine animals

“…New archival tag technology is shedding light on some remarkable long-distance migrations by large tunas (Block et al 2005) and sharks (Skomal et al 2009). Acoustic tags are similarly expanding our knowledge of fish movements over smaller spatial scales (Parsons et al 2003;Luo et al 2009). However, not all marine species, or life stages, are amenable to archival or acoustic tags.…”