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Tracking and mapping sun-synchronous migrations and diel space use patterns of Haemulon sciurus and Lutjanus apodus in the U.S. Virgin Islands

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Abstract

The spatially explicit diel movement patterns of fish using coral reef ecosystems are not well understood, despite the widespread recognition that many common species undergo distinct migrations to utilize different resources during night and day. We used manual acoustic telemetry coupled with global positioning technology to track the detailed spatially explicit daily movements (24 h) of multiple individuals of two common Caribbean fish species, Haemulon sciurus (bluestriped grunt) and Lutjanus apodus (schoolmaster snapper). Movement pathways and day and night activity spaces were mapped and quantified in a Geographic Information System (GIS). Directional sun-synchronous migrations occurred close to astronomical sunset and sunrise. Site fidelity within day and night activity spaces was high. Nine of twelve individuals exhibited overlap of day and night activity spaces and three fish (L. apodus) exhibited complete spatial segregation. Night activity spaces (H. sciurus: 11,309 ± 3,548 m2; L. apodus: 9,950 ± 3,120 m2) were significantly larger than day activity spaces (H. sciurus: 2,778 ± 1,979 m2; L. apodus: 1,291 ± 636 m2). The distance between sequential position fixes (step lengths) was significantly greater at night than day, indicative of nocturnal foraging and day resting behavior. Integrating acoustic telemetry, GIS techniques and spatial statistics to study fish movement behavior revealed both individual variability and some broader generality in movement paths and activity spaces suggestive of complex underlying behavioral mechanisms influencing diel movements.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a NOAA cooperative agreement with the University of the Virgin Islands. We thank the staff of NOAA’s Biogeography Branch for providing logistical support and acoustic tracking equipment and the National Park Service on St. John for their cooperation while operating within the Virgin Islands National Park. We would also like to thank the numerous UVI volunteers who helped to collect the 288 h of fish tracking data in all weather conditions. Finally, we would like to extend our gratitude to the anonymous reviewers of this manuscript for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, University of the Virgin Islands, 2 John Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 00802, USA

    Steven Hitt & Simon J. Pittman

  2. NOAA/NOS/NCCOS/CCMA, Biogeography Branch, 1305 East–west Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA

    Simon J. Pittman

  3. School of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, Kingston University London, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 1LQ, UK

    Kerry A. Brown

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  1. Steven Hitt
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Correspondence to Simon J. Pittman.

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Hitt, S., Pittman, S.J. & Brown, K.A. Tracking and mapping sun-synchronous migrations and diel space use patterns of Haemulon sciurus and Lutjanus apodus in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Environ Biol Fish 92, 525–538 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9875-2

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