Field Evidence of Compass Orientation in Migrating Juvenile Grunts (Haemulidae)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1984

Keywords

compass orientation, grunts, landmarks, migration

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-0981(84)90005-4

Abstract

Juvenile French and white grunts, Haemulon flavolineatum (Desmarest) and H. plumieri (Lacé-pède), were captured during their daily migrations between diurnal resting sites on coral patch reefs and nocturnal feeding grounds in seagrass beds. Grunts captured during morning and evening migrations were released on the route and after displacement up to 100 m or 5 km away. Grunts generally moved in the direction which would have taken them back towards their home reef or to their accustomed feeding sites, indicating that familiar landmarks are not essential for orientation. The spatial precision of migration may serve to partition the feeding area most efficiently. The timing of migrations is also very precise, and appears to be adapted to reduce the vulnerability of grunts to predation near their home reef.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, v. 81, issue 2, p. 181-192

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