Flight response of the barber surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus Castelnau, 1855 (Teleostei: Acanthuridae), to spearfisher presence

When confronted by predators, prey need to make an economic decision between continuing their current activity or flee. Flight Initiation Distance (FID), the distance at which an organism begins to flee an approaching threat, has been used to indicate an animal's fearfulness level and a way to examine factors influencing escape decisions. Here we investigated how the FID of the barber surgeonfish, Acanthurus bahianus, responds to the presence of spearfishers in a fishing site in northeast Brazil. Specifically, we examined whether the FID was influenced by body and group size; by the heterogeneity of species in groups formation; and the distance to shelter. Significant differences in FID were observed with increasing body size. We found no significant relationship of FID with size or group formation, neither with distance to shelter. Preferences in forming groups with A. bahianus were seen among some species, and a higher FID was associated with less sheltered substrates. Results obtained here support theories suggesting that spearfishers do influence fish behavior. We highlight that future research should focus on the indirect impacts of spearfishing on the structure of marine communities, emphasizing the anti-predator behaviour of juvenile and adult target fishes.(AU)

Ao serem confrontadas por predadores, as presas precisam tomar decisões econômicas, escolhendo entre continuar com sua atividade atual ou fugir. Distância Inicial de Fuga (DIF), a distância à qual um organismo começa a fugir de uma ameaça que se aproxima, tem sido utilizada para indicar o nível de medo do animal e um modo para se examinar fatores que influenciam nas decisões de fuga. Aqui nós investigamos como a DIF do peixe cirurgião, Acanthurus bahianus , responde à presença de pescadores subaquáticos em uma tradicional área de pesca no nordeste do Brasil. Especificamente, investigamos se a DIF foi influenciada pelo tamanho do corpo e do grupo; pela heterogeneidade das espécies na formação de grupos; e pela distância para refúgio. Diferenças significativas na DIF foram observadas com o aumento no tamanho do corpo. Nós não encontramos nenhuma relação significativa da DIF com o tamanho ou formação do grupo, nem com a distância para refúgio. Preferências na formação de grupos com A. bahianus foram observadas entre algumas espécies,e maiores DIF foram associadas com substratos menos abrigados. Resultados obtidos aqui suportam teorias sugerindo que pescadores subaquáticos influenciam no comportamento dos peixes. Nós destacamos que pesquisas futuras devem focar nos impactos indiretos da pesca subaquática na estrutura das comunidades marinhas, enfatizando o comportamento anti-predador de peixes juvenis e adultos alvo da pesca.(AU)

A novel method to obtain accurate length estimates of carnivorous reef fishes from a single video camera

In the last years, technological advances enhanced the utilization of baited underwater video (BUV) to monitor the diversity, abundance, and size composition of fish assemblages. However, attempts to use static single-camera devices to estimate fish length were limited due to high errors, originated from the variable distance between the fishes and the reference scale included in the scene. In this work, we present a novel simple method to obtain accurate length estimates of carnivorous fishes by using a single downward-facing camera baited video station. The distinctive feature is the inclusion of a mirrored surface at the base of the stand that allows for correcting the apparent or "naive" length of the fish by the distance between the fish and the reference scale. We describe the calibration procedure and compare the performance (accuracy and precision) of this new technique with that of other single static camera methods. Overall, estimates were highly accurate (mean relative error = -0.6%) and precise (mean coefficient of variation = 3.3%), even in the range of those obtained with stereo-video methods.(AU)

En los últimos años, los avances tecnológicos permitieron intensificar el uso de estaciones de video fijas para estudiar la abundancia, composición de especies y estructura de tamaños de los ensambles ícticos. Sin embargo, la utilización de una única cámara estática para estimar el tamaño de los peces puede conducir a determinaciones poco exactas, provocadas por la distancia variable entre los peces y la escala de referencia incluida en la escena. En este trabajo presentamos un método novedoso para obtener estimaciones exactas del largo de peces carnívoros, que utiliza una estación de video fija con una única cámara orientada verticalmente. La característica que distingue a este sistema es la inclusión de una superficie espejada en la base del soporte de la cámara que permite corregir la longitud aparente o "naive" en función de la distancia entre los peces y la escala de referencia. En este trabajo describimos el procedimiento de calibración y comparamos el rendimiento de esta técnica (exactitud y precisión) con la de otros métodos que utilizan una única cámara estática. Las estimaciones obtenidas fueron exactas (error relativo promedio = -0,6%) y precisas (coeficiente de variación promedio = 3,3%), en el rango de valores obtenidos con estéreo-video.(AU)

Variabilidade da infauna adjacente a estruturas rochosas na plataforma rasa do litoral do Paraná, Brasil

Ocean rocky formations are known as islands. When islands become completely submerged, they are called stone slabs. Like reefs, these formations alter the flux of water produced by the waves, which in turn interacts with the adjacent sediment, altering the sediment and its undulation marks. The alterations caused by the interaction between the waves and emerged or submerged rigid structures can potentially alter the composition and the distributional patterns of the infauna of the adjacent, unconsolidated substrate. In order to evaluate the strength of these alterations, we sampled the infauna and the sediment adjacent to two ocean structures, one emerged and one submerged. Collecting was performed in winter and summer, while discriminating between the faces of the structures, the distances from them, and the troughs and crests of ripple marks. The granulometric characteristics of the sediments and the dimensions of the undulation marks differed in regards to the orientation of and the distance from the structures. Infaunal associations showed differences that can be explained by the sedimentation patterns. However, there were no differences in sediment characteristics and composition of the infauna when troughs and crests were compared. The waves interacted most intensely with the submerged structure, where the sediment showed larger grains next to the undulation marks, what resulted in a more pronounced differentiation of the infauna.

Variabilidade da infauna adjacente a estruturas rochosas na plataforma rasa do litoral do Paraná, Brasil

Ocean rocky formations are known as islands. When islands become completely submerged, they are called stone slabs. Like reefs, these formations alter the flux of water produced by the waves, which in turn interacts with the adjacent sediment, altering the sediment and its undulation marks. The alterations caused by the interaction between the waves and emerged or submerged rigid structures can potentially alter the composition and the distributional patterns of the infauna of the adjacent, unconsolidated substrate. In order to evaluate the strength of these alterations, we sampled the infauna and the sediment adjacent to two ocean structures, one emerged and one submerged. Collecting was performed in winter and summer, while discriminating between the faces of the structures, the distances from them, and the troughs and crests of ripple marks. The granulometric characteristics of the sediments and the dimensions of the undulation marks differed in regards to the orientation of and the distance from the structures. Infaunal associations showed differences that can be explained by the sedimentation patterns. However, there were no differences in sediment characteristics and composition of the infauna when troughs and crests were compared. The waves interacted most intensely with the submerged structure, where the sediment showed larger grains next to the undulation marks, what resulted in a more pronounced differentiation of the infauna.

Variabilidade da infauna adjacente a estruturas rochosas na plataforma rasa do litoral do Paraná, Brasil

Ocean rocky formations are known as islands. When islands become completely submerged, they are called stone slabs. Like reefs, these formations alter the flux of water produced by the waves, which in turn interacts with the adjacent sediment, altering the sediment and its undulation marks. The alterations caused by the interaction between the waves and emerged or submerged rigid structures can potentially alter the composition and the distributional patterns of the infauna of the adjacent, unconsolidated substrate. In order to evaluate the strength of these alterations, we sampled the infauna and the sediment adjacent to two ocean structures, one emerged and one submerged. Collecting was performed in winter and summer, while discriminating between the faces of the structures, the distances from them, and the troughs and crests of ripple marks. The granulometric characteristics of the sediments and the dimensions of the undulation marks differed in regards to the orientation of and the distance from the structures. Infaunal associations showed differences that can be explained by the sedimentation patterns. However, there were no differences in sediment characteristics and composition of the infauna when troughs and crests were compared. The waves interacted most intensely with the submerged structure, where the sediment showed larger grains next to the undulation marks, what resulted in a more pronounced differentiation of the infauna.