Are vertical migrations driven by circadian behaviour? Decoupling of activity and depth use in a large riverine elasmobranch, the freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis)

A.C. Gleiss; D.L. Morgan; J.M. Whitty; J.J. Keleher; S. Fossette; G.C. Hays

doi:10.1007/s10750-016-2957-6

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Are vertical migrations driven by circadian behaviour? Decoupling of activity and depth use in a large riverine elasmobranch, the freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis)

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Are vertical migrations driven by circadian behaviour? Decoupling of activity and depth use in a large riverine elasmobranch, the freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis)

A.C. Gleiss, D.L. Morgan, J.M. Whitty, J.J. Keleher, S. Fossette and G.C. Hays

Hydrobiologia, Vol.787(1), pp.181-191

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2957-6

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Abstract

Circadian rhythms occur widely amongst living organisms, often in response to diel changes in environmental conditions. In aquatic animals, circadian activity is often synchronised with diel changes in the depths individuals occupy and may be related to predator–prey interactions, where the circadian rhythm is determined by ambient light levels, or have a thermoregulatory purpose, where the circadian rhythm is governed by temperature. Here, these two hypotheses are examined using animal-attached accelerometers in juvenile freshwater sawfish occupying a riverine environment displaying seasonal changes in thermal stratification. Across seasons, diel patterns of depth use (shallow at night and deep in the day) tended to occur only in the late dry seasons when the water was stratified, whereas individuals were primarily shallow in the early dry season which featured no thermal stratification. Activity was elevated during crepuscular and nocturnal periods compared to daytime, regardless of the thermal environment. Our observation of resting at cooler depths is consistent with behavioural thermoregulation to reduce energy expenditure, whereas activity appears linked to ambient light levels and predator–prey interactions. This suggests that circadian rhythms in activity and vertical migrations are decoupled in this species and respond to independent environmental drivers.

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Title: Are vertical migrations driven by circadian behaviour? Decoupling of activity and depth use in a large riverine elasmobranch, the freshwater sawfish (Pristis pristis)
Authors/Creators: A.C. Gleiss (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
D.L. Morgan (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J.M. Whitty (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
J.J. Keleher (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
S. Fossette (Author/Creator) - The University of Western Australia
G.C. Hays (Author/Creator) - Deakin University
Publication Details: Hydrobiologia, Vol.787(1), pp.181-191
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Identifiers: 991005541004407891
Copyright: © 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences; Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research; Freshwater Fish Group and Fish Health Unit
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science