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

Snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) home range dynamics: acoustic tagging studies in a marine reserve
Snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) home range dynamics: acoustic tagging studies in a marine reserve
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 m2 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 by ~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.
0171-8630
253-265
Parsons, D.M.
2feefed8-53be-462d-bcff-5a1d29bf1000
Babcock, R.C.
952c3f78-2862-4f38-a2f3-b384ea0a6b6f
Hankin, R.K.S.
296864a6-e423-44b6-ad0e-25422c913540
Willis, T.J.
9e73e5db-1e5e-433e-9ecc-639f95bc4789
Aitken, J.P.
ee407be9-993f-405a-9de1-4afedf523131
O’Dor, R.K.
aee8b4ed-b03e-43a5-8ea8-b6b94a37fba7
Jackson, G.D.
95ea686e-861a-498d-b302-949b9298890c
Parsons, D.M.
2feefed8-53be-462d-bcff-5a1d29bf1000
Babcock, R.C.
952c3f78-2862-4f38-a2f3-b384ea0a6b6f
Hankin, R.K.S.
296864a6-e423-44b6-ad0e-25422c913540
Willis, T.J.
9e73e5db-1e5e-433e-9ecc-639f95bc4789
Aitken, J.P.
ee407be9-993f-405a-9de1-4afedf523131
O’Dor, R.K.
aee8b4ed-b03e-43a5-8ea8-b6b94a37fba7
Jackson, G.D.
95ea686e-861a-498d-b302-949b9298890c

Parsons, D.M., Babcock, R.C., Hankin, R.K.S., Willis, T.J., Aitken, J.P., O’Dor, R.K. and Jackson, G.D. (2003) Snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) home range dynamics: acoustic tagging studies in a marine reserve. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 262, 253-265. (doi:10.3354/meps262253).

Record type: Article

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 m2 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 by ~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.

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More information

Published date: 7 November 2003

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 59181
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/59181
ISSN: 0171-8630
PURE UUID: 0197fabc-3b01-4da7-9e23-7de347fdfa12

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Date deposited: 26 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:14

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Contributors

Author: D.M. Parsons
Author: R.C. Babcock
Author: R.K.S. Hankin
Author: T.J. Willis
Author: J.P. Aitken
Author: R.K. O’Dor
Author: G.D. Jackson

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