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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(12)

Identification of predators using a novel photographic tethering device

D. K. Bassett A B , A. G. Jeffs A and J. C. Montgomery A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand.

B Corresponding author. Email: danielbassett@mac.com

Marine and Freshwater Research 59(12) 1079-1083 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08036
Submitted: 18 February 2008  Accepted: 1 September 2008   Published: 19 December 2008

Abstract

Tethering prey is often used to help determine the impact of predators in aquatic communities. In this study, a novel photographic tethering device was used to make digital recordings of predation events on juveniles of the spiny lobster, Jasus edwardsii. Predation of lobsters was significantly higher during the day (76%) than at night (33.4%). This was consistent with a SCUBA survey that found greater numbers of diurnal predators than nocturnal predators at the study site. However, the abundance of predators was not consistent with the number of predation events for individual species as recorded by the photographic tethering device. The snapper, Pagrus auratus, was the most abundant species at the study site (45% of all diurnally active fishes), but was only responsible for 12% of predation events during the day. In contrast, wrasse species were responsible for the greatest number of predation events during the day (60%), yet made up only a small proportion of the diurnal fish population (25%). The results of this study indicate the importance of determining the identity of potential predators, through the use of a photographic tethering device, for increasing the value of results generated from tethering experiments.

Additional keywords: early juvenile lobster, fish, Jasus edwardsii, predation, tethering.


Acknowledgement

We thank Aden Abdi and Murray Birch for the design and construction of the digital camera devices, and Jo Evans for additional modifications. Staff from Canon New Zealand Ltd provided helpful technical assistance. We would also like to thank the two anonymous referees for reviewing this paper. This research complied with New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999 and was approved by the NIWA Animal Ethics Committee.


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