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Diel rhythms in shallow Mediterranean rocky-reef fishes: a chronobiological approach with the help of trained volunteers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2012

Ernesto Azzurro ,
Jacopo Aguzzi ,
Francesc Maynou ,
Juan José Chiesa  and
Dario Savini
Ernesto Azzurro
Affiliation:
ISPRA, National Institute of Environmental Protection and Research, Sts Livorno, Piazzale dei Marmi 2, 57123, Livorno, Italy
Jacopo Aguzzi
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC); Paseo Maritímo de la Barceloneta, 37-49. 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Francesc Maynou
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM-CSIC); Paseo Maritímo de la Barceloneta, 37-49. 08003 Barcelona, Spain
Juan José Chiesa
Affiliation:
Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dario Savini*
Affiliation:
DiSTA—Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Sezione Ambiente Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy For-Mare, Via Lovati 33, 27100 Pavia, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: D. Savini, DiSTA—Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Sezione Ambiente Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy email: dario.savini@unipv.it
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Abstract

Behavioural rhythms in marine species have been mostly investigated in laboratory organisms and their expression within the animals' natural environments remains largely unknown. Here, we studied diel (i.e. 24-hours-based) and intra-diel (i.e. 12-hours-based) rhythmic variations in the abundance of seven shallow rocky-reef fish species, namely Coris julis, Epinephelus marginatus, Sarpa salpa, Serranus cabrilla, Serranus scriba, Sparisoma cretense and Thalassoma pavo, along the rocky shores of Linosa Island (Mediterranean Sea). Data were visually collected by trained volunteers along fixed transects at 3-hourly intervals throughout six consecutive 24-hours periods. Density estimates can vary greatly between consecutive days and during 24-hours periods according not only to the major day–night changeover but also to minor intra-diel variations at the daylight hours. In the case of T. pavo, C. julis, S. cabrilla and S. salpa waveform analyses showed midday troughs in abundance within the 24-hours period but significant variation within the hours of daylight was highlighted only for T. pavo. Although results were not conclusive at the intra-dial level, the employment of volunteers represented a valuable tool for chronobiology, suitable to improve our understanding of fish behaviour in natural systems.

Keywords

rocky-reef fishesactivity rhythmsvisual censuswaveform analysisFourier analysisMediterranean SeaCitizen Science
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 93 , Special Issue 2: Fish and Fisheries , March 2013 , pp. 461 - 470
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2012

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