The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

The effect of familiarity on aggregation and social behaviour in juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula

The effect of familiarity on aggregation and social behaviour in juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula
The effect of familiarity on aggregation and social behaviour in juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula
This study was designed to address whether juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula aggregate and to determine whether potential aggregation is underpinned by social preferences for conspecifics. Using controlled and replicated experiments, the role of familiarity as a potential mechanism driving aggregation and social behaviour in this species was considered. Observed S. canicula association data compared to null model simulations of random distributions revealed differences in aggregation under different social contexts. Only familiar juvenile S. canicula aggregated more than would be expected from random distribution across their habitat. Familiarity increased the mean number of groups but did not significantly affect mean group size. Significant preference and avoidance behaviour across all groups were also observed. Furthermore, the strength of social attraction, quantified by the mean association index, was significantly higher in groups containing familiar individuals. Mixed familiar and unfamiliar treatments were also conducted to test for within- and between-group effects, finding high variation across replicates with some groups assorting by familiarity and others not. It is believed that this study is the first to examine experimentally the influence of conspecific familiarity on aggregation behaviour in sharks. These results not only imply a functional benefit to aggregation, but also suggest that persistent social affiliation is likely to influence dispersal following hatching in this small benthic elasmobranch.
association, elasmobranch, grouping behaviour, oviparity, social network, social recognition
0022-1112
1596-1610
Jacoby, D.M.P.
daeb547c-7028-4cd5-8177-5712cae9f3bf
Sims, D.W.
7234b444-25e2-4bd5-8348-a1c142d0cf81
Croft, D.P.
fa047b0c-2ca0-4e3f-9087-250511a545b3
Jacoby, D.M.P.
daeb547c-7028-4cd5-8177-5712cae9f3bf
Sims, D.W.
7234b444-25e2-4bd5-8348-a1c142d0cf81
Croft, D.P.
fa047b0c-2ca0-4e3f-9087-250511a545b3

Jacoby, D.M.P., Sims, D.W. and Croft, D.P. (2012) The effect of familiarity on aggregation and social behaviour in juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula. Journal of Fish Biology, 81 (5), 1596-1610. (doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2012.03420.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study was designed to address whether juvenile small spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula aggregate and to determine whether potential aggregation is underpinned by social preferences for conspecifics. Using controlled and replicated experiments, the role of familiarity as a potential mechanism driving aggregation and social behaviour in this species was considered. Observed S. canicula association data compared to null model simulations of random distributions revealed differences in aggregation under different social contexts. Only familiar juvenile S. canicula aggregated more than would be expected from random distribution across their habitat. Familiarity increased the mean number of groups but did not significantly affect mean group size. Significant preference and avoidance behaviour across all groups were also observed. Furthermore, the strength of social attraction, quantified by the mean association index, was significantly higher in groups containing familiar individuals. Mixed familiar and unfamiliar treatments were also conducted to test for within- and between-group effects, finding high variation across replicates with some groups assorting by familiarity and others not. It is believed that this study is the first to examine experimentally the influence of conspecific familiarity on aggregation behaviour in sharks. These results not only imply a functional benefit to aggregation, but also suggest that persistent social affiliation is likely to influence dispersal following hatching in this small benthic elasmobranch.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: October 2012
Keywords: association, elasmobranch, grouping behaviour, oviparity, social network, social recognition
Organisations: Ocean Biochemistry & Ecosystems, Centre for Biological Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 344894
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/344894
ISSN: 0022-1112
PURE UUID: 12386d2c-77c2-4d1a-a306-7d8cd081d89c
ORCID for D.W. Sims: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-0916-7363

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 05 Nov 2012 16:48
Last modified: 19 Jun 2024 01:44

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: D.M.P. Jacoby
Author: D.W. Sims ORCID iD
Author: D.P. Croft

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×