Nocturnal migration reduces exposure to micropredation in a coral reef fish

Sikkel, Paul C.; Welicky, Rachel L.; Artim, John; McCammon, Amber M.; Sellers, Joseph C.

doi:10.5343/bms.2016.1021

Cited by 33 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…migrants have less no significant difference migrants have more diversity Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp. in passerine birds [25] haemosporidian parasites in junco birds [26] haematozoa in Anseriform birds [21] haematozoa in birds [27] nematodes in Anseriform and Accipitriform birds [28,29] parasites in Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla mammals [30] prevalence protozoans in monarch butterflies [31,32] haemosporidian parasites in junco birds [26] blood parasites in sparrows [33] intestinal parasites in European Passerine birds [34] parasites in Artiodactyla and Perissodactyla mammals [30] intensity warble fly in reindeer [17] trematodes in galaxiid fish [13] ticks in red deer [35] isopods in French grunt fish [36] blood parasites in sparrows [33] haemosporidian parasites in junco birds [26] rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc. R. Soc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metrics matter: the effect of parasite richness, intensity and prevalence on the evolution of host migration

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Parasites have long been thought to influence the evolution of migration, but precisely determining the conditions under which this occurs by quantifying costs of infection remains a challenge. Here we developed a model that demonstrates how the metric used to describe infection (richness/diversity, prevalence or intensity) shapes the prediction of whether migration will evolve. The model shows that predictions based on minimizing richness yield opposite results compared to those based on minimizing prevalence, with migration only selected for when minimizing prevalence. Consistent with these findings, empirical studies that measure parasite diversity typically find that migrants are worse off than residents, while those measuring prevalence or intensity find the opposite. Our own empirical analysis of fish parasite data finds that migrants (of all types) have higher parasite richness than residents, but with no significant difference in either prevalence or intensity. BackgroundMigration is a ubiquitous behaviour that spans a large range of temporal and spatial scales [1]. Although stereotypical images of migration often feature birds moving to the equator for the winter and ungulates travelling across African savannahs, migratory behaviour is a much broader phenomenon. Amphibians have small-scale migrations between aquatic and terrestrial habitats [2], as do many land crabs [3]; moths migrate altitudinally to escape seasonally hot conditions [4]; plankton migrate daily up and down in the water column [5]; and some sea lions migrate to breed every 17-18 months [6]. The uniqueness of migration comes from the predictable and directional nature of the movement. However, movement of all forms can be inherently costly in terms of depleting energy, reducing survival and increasing exposure to novel and uncertain conditions [7].Why, then, do organisms migrate? Three broad sets of factors are thought to shape migration [8]. First, some species migrate between breeding/spawning grounds and areas that are better suited to adult survival or resource accumulation. Second, some species are constantly on the move tracking changing resource patterns. Third, some species spend part of the year in one area that is well suited for breeding and foraging, but migrate away to seek refuge (from cold, dry or stormy weather) during part of the year. Both early and modern conceptions of migration as a refuge behaviour focus on climate as a driving factor [8,9]. However, these seasonal movements may also be driven by predators [10,11], parasitoids [12], or parasites and pathogens [13].The role of parasites in determining host ecology and behaviour is becoming increasingly recognized [14,15]. Parasites (which here we define broadly to include both macroparasites and microparasites, as per [16]) in particular can shape migration patterns in several distinct ways. By migrating, individuals can escape parasites that are restricted to certain habitats [17,18], or move to

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metrics matter: the effect of parasite richness, intensity and prevalence on the evolution of host migration

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Open-mesh fish-baited traps are simple enclosures, made of plastic or galvanized steel mesh, large enough to allow the bait-fish to turn around in and constructed of an open-weave material that freely passes seawater and parasites yet fine enough that the fish is unable to escape from the trap. These traps determine the relative gnathiid load and are typically used to assess gnathiid load across different habitat ( Sikkel et al. in press ) or portions of the diel cycle ( Grutter, 1999b , Sikkel et al., 2006 , Sikkel et al., 2009 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…in press ) or portions of the diel cycle ( Grutter, 1999b , Sikkel et al., 2006 , Sikkel et al., 2009 ). Using open-mesh traps, proportions and total daily loads can be estimated by sampling throughout the diel cycle ( Sikkel et al. in press ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of sampling methodologies and estimation of population parameters for a temporary fish ectoparasite

Artim

Sikkel

2016

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Characterizing spatio-temporal variation in the density of organisms in a community is a crucial part of ecological study. However, doing so for small, motile, cryptic species presents multiple challenges, especially where multiple life history stages are involved. Gnathiid isopods are ecologically important marine ectoparasites, micropredators that live in substrate for most of their lives, emerging only once during each juvenile stage to feed on fish blood. Many gnathiid species are nocturnal and most have distinct substrate preferences. Studies of gnathiid use of habitat, exploitation of hosts, and population dynamics have used various trap designs to estimate rates of gnathiid emergence, study sensory ecology, and identify host susceptibility. In the studies reported here, we compare and contrast the performance of emergence, fish-baited and light trap designs, outline the key features of these traps, and determine some life cycle parameters derived from trap counts for the Eastern Caribbean coral-reef gnathiid, Gnathia marleyi. We also used counts from large emergence traps and light traps to estimate additional life cycle parameters, emergence rates, and total gnathiid density on substrate, and to calibrate the light trap design to provide estimates of rate of emergence and total gnathiid density in habitat not amenable to emergence trap deployment.

show abstract

“…For example, consumption of copepods (Kramer et al, 2013) and high concentration of autotrophs (Clements et al, 2016) sourced within the epilithic algal matrix (EAM) by parrotfish raises questions about the main components of their nutrition. Exclusion of other trophic links such as connectivity to mangrove or seagrass habitats is also common, where grazers are known to make nocturnal migrations off coral reefs to avoid micropredation (Sikkel et al, 2017), or exploit foraging opportunities (Nagelkerken et al, 2000). Limited time and resources prevent incorporation of every component of a food web into a study, but the composition of components included, or excluded, requires consideration when interpreting results.…”

Section: Ecological Concepts Trophodynamics and Coral Reefsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophodynamics as a Tool for Understanding Coral Reef Ecosystems

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The increased frequency of publications concerning trophic ecology of coral reefs suggests a degree of interest in the role species and functional groups play in energy flow within these systems. Coral reef ecosystems are particularly complex, however, and assignment of trophic positions requires precise knowledge of mechanisms driving food webs and population dynamics. Competent analytical tools and empirical analysis are integral to defining ecosystem processes and avoiding misinterpretation of results. Here we examine the contribution of trophodynamics to informing ecological roles and understanding of coral reef ecology. Applied trophic studies of coral reefs were used to identify recent trends in methodology and analysis. Although research is increasing, clear definitions and scaling of studies is lacking. Trophodynamic studies will require more precise spatial and temporal data collection and analysis using multiple methods to fully explore the complex interactions within coral reef ecosystems.

show abstract

Nocturnal migration reduces exposure to micropredation in a coral reef fish

Cited by 33 publications

References 46 publications

Metrics matter: the effect of parasite richness, intensity and prevalence on the evolution of host migration

Metrics matter: the effect of parasite richness, intensity and prevalence on the evolution of host migration

Comparison of sampling methodologies and estimation of population parameters for a temporary fish ectoparasite

Trophodynamics as a Tool for Understanding Coral Reef Ecosystems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About