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Human impacts on residency behaviour of spangled emperor, Lethrinus nebulosus, in a marine protected area, as determined by acoustic telemetry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2008

Olivier Chateau  and
Laurent Wantiez
Olivier Chateau
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Insulaire du Vivant et de l'Environnement, University of New Caledonia, Aquarium des Lagons, BP R4, 98851 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia
Laurent Wantiez*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire Insulaire du Vivant et de l'Environnement, University of New Caledonia, Aquarium des Lagons, BP R4, 98851 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Laurent Wantiez Laboratoire Insulaire du Vivant et de l'EnvironnementUniversity of New Caledonia, Aquarium des Lagons BP R4, 98851 Noumea cedex, New Caledonia email: wantiez@univ-nc.nc
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Abstract

The residency behaviour of six specimens of spangled emperor, Lethrinus nebulosus, was studied by acoustic telemetry in the mooring area (3–6 m depth) of a marine protected area (MPA) in New Caledonia. The 3 smaller fish (34–49 cm FL) remained within the study site less than 6 hours. The 3 larger individuals (51–54 cm FL) were regularly detected within the study site during the survey (6.5 months). These fish followed similar diurnal patterns of detection. They use the study site as a resting area during the day and migrate each night to feeding grounds after sunset. However, their presence was higher when wind speed was low (<10 knots) during weekends and school holidays. These links reflect a possible impact of human feeding activity. Consequently, management policies should include measures to control feeding activities within MPAs to maintain marine communities in a state unaltered by human activities.

Keywords

Human impactsresidency behaviourspangled emperorLethrinus nebulosusmarine protected areaacoustic telemetry
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 825 - 829
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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