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Schooling increases risk exposure for fish navigating past artificial barriers.
Bertrand H Lemasson1, James W Haefner1, Mark D Bowen2
1Department of Biology and Ecology Center, Utah State University (USU), Logan, Utah, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 1, 2014
Summary
Social interactions drastically increase fish exposure time to artificial barriers. Grouping behavior, not individual swimming ability, is key to understanding fish risk in modified freshwater ecosystems.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Ichthyology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Artificial barriers are common in freshwater ecosystems, impacting biodiversity.
- Fish risk assessment often relies on individual swimming behavior, neglecting social influences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how social interactions affect juvenile palmetto bass navigation around artificial barriers.
- To compare risk exposure and behavior of solitary versus grouped fish.
Main Methods:
- Used an experimental flume with flow conditions challenging fish stamina.
- Assessed downstream passage time and swimming behavior of individual and grouped fish.
- Measured risk as time exposed to the artificial barrier.
Main Results:
- Grouped fish exhibited a 23-fold increase in exposure time compared to solitary fish.
- Solitary fish showed more skittish behavior (acceleration, turning) than grouped fish.
- Grouped fish displayed structured spatial patterns, suggesting coordinated swimming.
Conclusions:
- Individual behavior trials can inaccurately predict fish risk around engineered structures.
- Social behavior and risk perception are critical factors in fish adaptation to modified aquatic environments.
- Current risk assessments may underestimate the impact of artificial barriers on fish populations.
