Evaluation of Visible Light as a Cue for Guiding Downstream Migrant Juvenile Sea Lamprey

Abstract

Light can modify orientation and locomotory behaviors in fish and has been applied to attract or repel migrant fish by inducing positive or negative phototaxis. Here, recently metamorphosed downstream‐migrating Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus were exposed to light cues in several orientations and intensities at night under controlled flowing‐water conditions in a laboratory flume. Behaviors and rates of downstream movement were monitored with overhead cameras and nets. When exposed to low‐intensity white light, 16–23% more Sea Lamprey were captured in a net closest to the light cue array compared to a dark control condition, suggesting some degree of positive phototaxis at low light levels (100 lx at a distance of 1 m from the light source). An interaction with the side of the flume (possibly due to varying flow conditions) and light treatment was also observed. At higher light intensities (1,000 lx at 1 m from the source), Sea Lamprey progressed downstream at a lower rate than was observed during dark conditions. After high‐intensity light treatments, fewer Sea Lamprey were observed in the nets at the downstream end of the flume and more Sea Lamprey were observed in the flume or in the release channel compared to dark control trials. Therefore, some photonegative behavior may be expressed at light levels of 1,000 lx or greater, perhaps as an attempt to avoid detection by predators by remaining stationary or seeking shelter. Light may have utility as a cue used for guidance devices to control Sea Lamprey, but further research is needed to define how light intensity and the environment (turbidity, depth, water velocity, and natural habitat features) influence locomotion, changes in swimming depth, and other behavioral responses of downstream‐migrating juvenile Sea Lamprey.

Artificial intelligence for fish behavior recognition may unlock fishing gear selectivity

“…Interesting behaviors from fishes have since been unearthed such as anti-predatory responses (Rieucau et al, 2014), encounters of fish with nets (Jones et al, 2008;Rudstam et al, 2011), differences in swimming speed (He, 1993;Breen et al, 2004;Spangler andCollins, 2011), avoidance (de Robertis andHandegard, 2013), exhaustion (Krag et al, 2009), orientation (Odling-Smee andBraithwaite, 2003;Holbrook and Perera, 2009;Haro et al, 2020), escapement (Glass et al, 1993;Mandralis et al, 2021), herding behavior (Ryer et al, 2006), and unique social behaviors (Anders et al, 2017a) from which selectivity studies in gears are based on. Knowledge of fish reaction and escape behavior has thus grown, leading to the development of novel gears with more open meshes, careful placement of sorting grids, and other devices to improve both size and species selectivity (Stewart, 2001;Watson and Kerstetter, 2006;Vogel, 2016;O'Neill et al, 2019).…”