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Reef odor: a wake up call for navigation in reef fish larvae
Claire B Paris1, Jelle Atema, Jean-Olivier Irisson
1Applied Marine Physics, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
Plos One
|September 10, 2013
Summary
Reef fish larvae can smell coral reefs from miles away, using odor to navigate the ocean. This discovery highlights the importance of chemical cues for marine connectivity and raises concerns about ocean pollution.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Ichthyology
- Sensory Ecology
Background:
- Understanding pelagic reef fish larval behavior is crucial for marine transport.
- Larval sensory apparatus plays a key role in their dispersal and settlement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate in-situ behavioral responses of reef fish larvae to olfactory cues.
- To provide evidence of larval discrimination of reef-associated odors and their navigational implications.
Main Methods:
- Deployment of a drifting in-situ chamber (DISC) to track reef fish larvae.
- Observation of larvae in oceanic waters and reef-born odor plumes near One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef.
Main Results:
- First in-situ evidence of pelagic reef fish larvae discriminating reef odor.
- Larvae altered swimming speed and direction in response to olfactory cues.
- Damselfish larvae detected reef crests and swam parallel to the shore.
Conclusions:
- Reef fish larvae detect coral reefs via smell from kilometers offshore, utilizing olfactory cues for navigation.
- Olfactory signals are vital for marine population connectivity, with implications for ocean health.
- Lagrangian observations are critical for understanding larval behavior and decision-making.
