Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey.
Few studies have documented the activity patterns of both predators and their common prey over 24 h diel cycles. This study documents the temporal periodicity of two common resident predators of juvenile reef fishes, Cephalopholis cyanostigma (rockcod) and Pseudochromis fuscus (dottyback) and compar...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2014-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4213059?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1818133836622462976 |
|---|---|
| author | Yoland J Bosiger Mark I McCormick |
| author_facet | Yoland J Bosiger Mark I McCormick |
| author_sort | Yoland J Bosiger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few studies have documented the activity patterns of both predators and their common prey over 24 h diel cycles. This study documents the temporal periodicity of two common resident predators of juvenile reef fishes, Cephalopholis cyanostigma (rockcod) and Pseudochromis fuscus (dottyback) and compares these to the activity and foraging pattern of a common prey species, juvenile Pomacentrus moluccensis (lemon damselfish). Detailed observations of activity in the field and using 24 h infrared video in the laboratory revealed that the two predators had very different activity patterns. C. cyanostigma was active over the whole 24 h period, with a peak in feeding strikes at dusk and increased activity at both dawn and dusk, while P. fuscus was not active at night and had its highest strike rates at midday. The activity and foraging pattern of P. moluccensis directly opposes that of C. cyanostigma with individuals reducing strike rate and intraspecific aggression at both dawn and dusk, and reducing distance from shelter and boldness at dusk only. Juveniles examined were just outside the size-selection window of P. fuscus. We suggest that the relatively predictable diel behaviour of coral reef predators results from physiological factors such as visual sensory abilities, circadian rhythmicity, variation in hunting profitability, and predation risk at different times of the day. Our study suggests that the diel periodicity of P. moluccensis behaviour may represent a response to increased predation risk at times when both the ability to efficiently capture food and visually detect predators is reduced. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:59:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce08b4e0b54549b68f3b3a7c814596cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:59:03Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce08b4e0b54549b68f3b3a7c814596cc2022-12-22T01:13:48ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-01910e11172310.1371/journal.pone.0111723Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey.Yoland J BosigerMark I McCormickFew studies have documented the activity patterns of both predators and their common prey over 24 h diel cycles. This study documents the temporal periodicity of two common resident predators of juvenile reef fishes, Cephalopholis cyanostigma (rockcod) and Pseudochromis fuscus (dottyback) and compares these to the activity and foraging pattern of a common prey species, juvenile Pomacentrus moluccensis (lemon damselfish). Detailed observations of activity in the field and using 24 h infrared video in the laboratory revealed that the two predators had very different activity patterns. C. cyanostigma was active over the whole 24 h period, with a peak in feeding strikes at dusk and increased activity at both dawn and dusk, while P. fuscus was not active at night and had its highest strike rates at midday. The activity and foraging pattern of P. moluccensis directly opposes that of C. cyanostigma with individuals reducing strike rate and intraspecific aggression at both dawn and dusk, and reducing distance from shelter and boldness at dusk only. Juveniles examined were just outside the size-selection window of P. fuscus. We suggest that the relatively predictable diel behaviour of coral reef predators results from physiological factors such as visual sensory abilities, circadian rhythmicity, variation in hunting profitability, and predation risk at different times of the day. Our study suggests that the diel periodicity of P. moluccensis behaviour may represent a response to increased predation risk at times when both the ability to efficiently capture food and visually detect predators is reduced.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4213059?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Yoland J Bosiger Mark I McCormick Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. PLoS ONE |
| title | Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. |
| title_full | Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. |
| title_fullStr | Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. |
| title_short | Temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey. |
| title_sort | temporal links in daily activity patterns between coral reef predators and their prey |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4213059?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yolandjbosiger temporallinksindailyactivitypatternsbetweencoralreefpredatorsandtheirprey AT markimccormick temporallinksindailyactivitypatternsbetweencoralreefpredatorsandtheirprey |