Movement and activity patterns of the European lobster, Homarus gammarus, revealed by electromagnetic telemetry |
| |
Authors: | I P Smith K J Collins A C Jensen |
| |
Institution: | (1) School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton Oceanography Centre, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, Hants, England Fax: +44 (0)1703 596642 e-mail: philip.smith@soc.soton.ac.uk, GB |
| |
Abstract: | European lobsters, Homarus gammarus (L.), were tracked on an artificial reef in Poole Bay on the south coast of England using an electromagnetic telemetry system
which monitored movements between reef units and recorded body movements (pitching and rolling) detected with a tilt switch
incorporated into the transmitting tag. Several environmental variables (water temperature, light, hydrostatic pressure, current
velocity and direction) were recorded simultaneously by the telemetry system, which was self-contained on the seabed. Movements
between units of the artificial reef (excursions outside shelter) were predominantly nocturnal, peaking 1.5 to 3 h after sunset
and returning to low levels shortly before dawn. A marked decline in the number of inter-reef unit movements from late summer
to winter was related to decreasing water temperature rather than to daytime light level, wave height or tidal range. Activity
indicated by the tilt switch was also greater at night, but declined gradually from a peak early in the night to a minimum
at around midday, on average, implying a degree of activity within reef units during daylight. As with movements between reef
units, activity declined seasonally with decreasing water temperature; in addition, the diel pattern of activity disappeared
in winter.
Received: 9 February 1998 / Accepted: 24 July 1998 |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|