High-Throughput Tracking of Social Networks in Marine Fish Populations

Despite their potential to generate high-quality positioning data, the use of high-resolution acoustic telemetry systems (HRATS) has been neglected in coastal marine areas due to the limitations that these environments pose to the transmission of acoustic signals. In this work, we applied a HRATS and social network analysis (SNA) to study the social interactions of the pearly razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula), a small coastal wrasse, in a Mediterranean marine reserve. Our analysis was based on proximity measures estimated from high-resolution trajectories from 232 individuals tracked during 55 days within a marine protected area. Associations were defined as the proportion of 5-min intervals in which two individuals were observed within 1 m from each other, and social networks were generated for the overall tracking period and for each particular day. The obtained network parameters were contrasted against 1,000 null association models obtained by randomly redistributing individual trajectories within the study area. The obtained networks showed a harem-like social structure, with agonistic behavior between males and larger association indices between individuals of different sex. Occasionally, sporadic associations of large groups of females were observed conducting excursions along the study area. By providing a comprehensive view of the organizational structure of the pearly razorfish, our study demonstrates the potential of HRATS to efficiently produce high-throughput tracking data from large numbers of individuals and of proper null social model formulation to reconstruct the social networks in wild-living marine fish populations. The combination of HRATS and SNA represents a powerful tool to study key ecological processes regarding the social interactions of individuals, including social dynamics, collective movements, and the response to environmental perturbations.Peer Reviewe

Food determines ephemerous and non-stable gut microbiome communities in juvenile wild and farmed Mediterranean fish

Novel insights were provided by contrasting the composition of wild and farmed fish gut microbiomes because the latter had essentially different environmental conditions from those in the wild. This was reflected in the gut microbiome of the wild Sparus aurata and Xyrichtys novacula studied here, which showed highly diverse microbial community structures, dominated by Proteobacteria, mostly related to an aerobic or microaerophilic metabolism, but with some common shared major species, such as Ralstonia sp. On the other hand, farmed non-fasted S. aurata individuals had a microbial structure that mirrored the microbial composition of their food source, which was most likely anaerobic, since several members of the genus Lactobacillus, probably revived from the feed and enriched in the gut, dominated the communities. The most striking observation was that after a short fasting period (86 h), farmed gilthead seabream almost lost their whole gut microbiome, and the resident community associated with the mucosa had a very much reduced diversity that was highly dominated by a single potentially aerobic species Micrococcus sp., closely related to M. flavus. The results pointed to the fact that, at least for the juvenile S. aurata studied, most of the microbes in the gut were transient and highly dependent on the feed source, and that only after fasting for at least 2 days could the resident microbiome in the intestinal mucosa be determined. Since an important role of this transient microbiome in relation to fish metabolism could not be discarded, the methodological approach needs to be well designed in order not to bias the results. The results have important implications for fish gut studies that could explain the diversity and occasional contradictory results published in relation to the stability of marine fish gut microbiomes, and might provide important information for feed formulation in the aquaculture industry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Toward a decade of ocean science for sustainable development through acoustic animal tracking

The ocean is a key component of the Earth's dynamics, providing a great variety of ecosystem services to humans. Yet, human activities are globally changing its structure and major components, including marine biodiversity. In this context, the United Nations has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development to tackle the scientific challenges necessary for a sustainable use of the ocean by means of the Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG14). Here, we review how Acoustic animal Tracking, a widely distributed methodology of tracking marine biodiversity with electronic devices, can provide a roadmap for implementing the major Actions to achieve the SDG14. We show that acoustic tracking can be used to reduce and monitor the effects of marine pollution including noise, light, and plastic pollution. Acoustic tracking can be effectively used to monitor the responses of marine biodiversity to human-made infrastructures and habitat restoration, as well as to determine the effects of hypoxia, ocean warming, and acidification. Acoustic tracking has been historically used to inform fisheries management, the design of marine protected areas, and the detection of essential habitats, rendering this technique particularly attractive to achieve the sustainable fishing and spatial protection target goals of the SDG14. Finally, acoustic tracking can contribute to end illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing by providing tools to monitor marine biodiversity against poachers and promote the development of Small Islands Developing States and developing countries. To fully benefit from acoustic tracking supporting the SDG14 Targets, trans-boundary collaborative efforts through tracking networks are required to promote ocean information sharing and ocean literacy. We therefore propose acoustic tracking and tracking networks as relevant contributors to tackle the scientific challenges that are necessary for a sustainable use of the ocean promoted by the United Nations.Agencia Estatal Investigacion, Espana [PID2019-104940GA-I00]; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas [PIE202030E002]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [DL57/2016/CP1361/ CT0036, BECORV PTDC/BIABMA/30278, UID/Multi/04326/2020]; European Regional Development Fund: Interreg, MarGen II Project [175806]; H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions [793627, 891404]; Juan de la Cierva, Ministerio Ciencia e Innovacion, Espana [IJC2019-038852-I]; Norwegian Research Council; European Cooperation in Science and Technology [CA18102]Agencia Estatal Investigacion, Espana, Grant/ Award Number: PID2019-104940GA-I00; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Grant/Award Number: PIE202030E002; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Grant/Award Number: DL57/2016/CP1361/ CT0036, BECORV PTDC/BIABMA/30278 and UID/Multi/04326/2020; European Regional Development Fund: Interreg, MarGen II Project, Grant/Award Number: 175806; H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, Grant/Award Number: 793627 and 891404; Juan de la Cierva, Ministerio Ciencia e Innovacion, Espana, Grant/ Award Number: IJC2019-038852-I; Norwegian Research Council, Grant/Award Number: LOST; European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number: CA18102 COS

Chronotypes-personality behavioural syndromes in wild marine fish

Abstract Chronotypes, the individual differences in daily activity timing, have profound associations with numerous physiological processes. Despite this, the covariance between chronotypes and other aspects of an individual's behaviour has been infrequently explored in non-human animals. This study delves into individual's variation across four axes of personality in a controlled environment, utilising the pearly razorfish, a model species for fish chronotype studies. We identified behavioural types across the aggressiveness continuum and established behavioural syndromes amongst exploration, activity, and boldness, irrespective of body size and condition. Subsequent to this, the experimental subjects were reintroduced to their natural habitat and individually tracked using high-resolution technology to ascertain their chronotypes. Our results revealed that whilst the exploration-activity-boldness syndrome bore no correlation with chronotypes, a significant association was observed between aggressiveness and chronotype. Hence, individuals with later awakening times and rest onsets were more aggressive than their counterparts with earlier awakening times and rest onsets. This study provides pioneering evidence linking fish chronotypes with other behavioural traits, such as aggressiveness, suggesting that behavioural variation could be potentially linked to the individuals' variation in internal clocks and the environmental variables influencing their expression

WTSP Covariates

This file contains the datasets used to examine rates of actuarial senescence in the four morph-sex classes of the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) in R package BaSTA. Three files total are required: (1) A birth-death year file, containing the birth and death years (unknown entered as 0) for all individuals included in the data set, (2) A survival matrix, with a line entered for each time an individual was re-sighted, (3) A covariate matrix, listing the sex and morph of each individual. This is the covariate file

White-throated sparrow survivorship data

This file contains the datasets used to examine rates of actuarial senescence in the four morph-sex classes of the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) in R package BaSTA. Three files total are required: (1) A birth-death year file, containing the birth and death years (unknown entered as 0) for all individuals included in the data set, (2) A survival file, with a line entered for each year in which an individual was re-sighted, (3) A covariate matrix, listing the sex and morph of each individual. This is the survivorship data

White-throated sparrow birth and death years

This data package contains the datasets used to examine rates of actuarial senescence in the four morph-sex classes of the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) in R package BaSTA. Three files total are required: (1) A birth-death year file, containing the birth and death years (unknown entered as 0) for all individuals included in the data set, (2) A survival matrix, with a line entered for each time an individual was re-sighted, (3) A covariate matrix, listing the sex and morph of each individual. This is the birth-death year file

Data from: Morph-specific patterns of reproductive senescence: connections to discrete reproductive strategies

How reproductive strategies contribute to patterns of senescence in natural populations remains contentious. We studied reproductive senescence in the dimorphic white-throated sparrow, an excellent species for exploring this issue. Within both sexes the morphs use distinct reproductive strategies, and disassortative pairing by morph results in pair types with distinct parental systems. White morph birds are more colorful and aggressive than tan counterparts, and white males compete for extra-pair matings whereas tan males are more parental. Tan males and white females share parental care equally, whereas white males provide little parental support to tan females. We found morph-specific patterns of reproductive senescence in both sexes. White males exhibited greater reproductive senescence than tan males. This result likely reflects the difficulty of sustaining a highly competitive reproductive strategy as aging progresses, rather than high physiological costs of competitiveness, since white males were also long-lived. Moreover, morph was not consistently related to reproductive senescence across the sexes, arguing against especially high costs of the traits associated with white morph identity. Rather, tan females exhibited earlier reproductive senescence than white females, and were short-lived, perhaps reflecting the challenges of unsupported motherhood. Results underscore the importance of social dynamics in determining patterns of reproductive senescence

Data from: Actuarial senescence in a dimorphic bird: different rates of aging in morphs with discrete reproductive strategies

It is often hypothesized that intra-sexual competition accelerates actuarial senescence, or the increase in mortality rates with age. However, an alternative hypothesis is that parental investment is more important to determining senescence rates. We used a unique model system, the white-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), to study variation in actuarial senescence. In this species, genetically-determined morphs display discrete mating strategies and disassortative pairing, providing an excellent opportunity to test the predictions of the above hypotheses. Compared to tan-striped males, white-striped males are more polygynous and aggressive, and less parental. Tan-striped females receive less parental support, and invest more into parental care than white-striped females, which are also more aggressive. Thus, higher senescence rates in males and white-striped birds would support the intra-sexual competition hypothesis, whereas higher senescence rates in females and tan-striped birds would support the parental investment hypothesis. White-striped males showed the lowest rate of actuarial senescence. Tan-striped females had the highest senescence rate, and tan-striped males and white-striped females showed intermediate, relatively equal rates. Thus, results were inconsistent with sexual selection and competitive strategies increasing senescence rates. Rather, results suggest that senescence may be accelerated by female-biased parental care, and lessened by sharing of parental duties