Locomotory activity and behaviour of the Antarctic teleostNotothenia coriiceps

North, A. W.. 1996 Locomotory activity and behaviour of the Antarctic teleostNotothenia coriiceps. Marine Biology, 126 (1). 125-132. 10.1007/BF00571384

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Abstract/Summary

The activity and behaviour of a free-living Antarctic fish,Notothenia coriiceps Richardson (formerlyN. neglecta), was investigated using a high-sensitivity, underwater TV camera at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. Detailed observations of the 33 cm TL (total length) fish were made over a period of 6 d in austral summer (February 1992), for a total 69.5 h. Natural light at 2.5 m depth allowed viewing from 1 h before sunrise to 1 h after sunset. The fish stayed in a territory within 3 m of a small cave for >98% of the time, and made between 1 to 148 swims d-1, of which 92.5% were brief (<15 s) feeding attempts. On average, 1.7% of each day was engaged in locomotion, including 1.2% swimming and 0.5% manoeuvring. Swimming was generally slow, at <2 body lengths s-1, and labriform and subcarangiform modes were used alternately or in combination. Activity level (swims or displays per hour) was unaffected by tide, but was lower for 3 d when a wind speed >16 knots prevailed indicating that large waves reduced activity. A suspected diurnal activity rhythm was not statistically significant. The fish is an ambush-predator, and it took most of its prey from the water column but some off macroalgae or the seabed. Ventilation rate was slightly higher after activity, and peaked after an encounter with anotherN. coriiceps.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/BF00571384
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0025-3162
Additional Keywords:	Champsocephalus gunnari
Date made live:	22 Nov 2016 09:25 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/515217

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