Presettlement schooling behaviour of a priacanthid, the Purplespotted Bigeye Priacanthus tayenus (Priacanthidae: Teleostei)

Authors

Julia Santana-Garcon, University of Western Australia
Jeffrey M. Leis, Australian Museum, New South Wales, Australia
Stephen J. Newman, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
Euan S. Harvey, The University of Western Australia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-26-2013

Journal Title

Environmental Biology of Fishes

ISSN

Print: 0378-1909 Electronic: 1573-5133

Keywords

Pelagic juvenile reef fish, Mid-water baited remote underwater stereo-video, Demersal fish, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Marine Biology | Population Biology

Abstract

We report in situ behavioural observations of presettlement schooling in Priacanthus tayenus off Coral Bay, Western Australia collected using pelagic Baited Remote Underwater stereo-Video systems. Two groups of fish (8 and 9 individuals) were observed that aggregated into a single school. Mean total length was 24.1 mm (12.5–30.2 mm). The fish swam at a mean speed of 8.5 cm s−1 in a group spacing themselves more or less evenly at a distance of around one body length from the nearest neighbour within the school. P. tayenus appeared to be sometimes associated with juveniles of other species. The results presented here add to the limited, but growing body of literature on the schooling behaviour of the early pelagic stages of demersal fishes.

Recommended Citation

Santana-Garcon, J., Leis, J.M., Newman, S.J. et al. Presettlement schooling behaviour of a priacanthid, the Purplespotted Bigeye Priacanthus tayenus (Priacanthidae: Teleostei). Environ Biol Fish 97, 277–283 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0150-6