26
R.S. Nemeth
Tupper 2008 ; Hutchinson and Rhodes 2010 ) . However, the high cost of acoustic tags
and receivers will limit sample size and the area that can be monitored which makes
measurements of migration distances and estimates of catchment area diffi cult using
this technology. Despite their respective weaknesses, these two methods used separately or in combination can provide useful information on the spatial and temporal
aspects of migration which will enhance our understanding of spatial use and improve
information for ecosystem based management (Rhodes and Tupper 2008 ) .
To illustrate the relevant spatio-temporal scales of movement exhibited by species
of fi sh that form spawning aggregations, the focus of this chapter will be transient
aggregators ( sensu Domeier and Colin 1997 , Chapter 1). The FMA during spawning
can be divided, for descriptive purposes, into four possible spatio-temporal scales
that range from largest to smallest: (1) the catchment area encompasses the home
ranges of all spawning adults using a single aggregation site during the annual
reproductive cycle (Fig. 2.1 ), (2) the staging area is where migration pathways begin
to converge and certain aggregating groupers rest, feed or visit cleaning stations
during the spawning season and in the vicinity of the spawning site, (3) the courtship
arena is where males and females begin to interact during the specifi c reproductive
period or lunar phase, and (4) the spawning site is where spawning occurs over a
few hours and for some species may include a core area, (Figs. 2.2 and 2.3 ). While
this information is available for a few species that have been studied in detail, all
four categories may not be applicable to all aggregating species with further studies
required in most cases.
Fig. 2.2 Temporal scales of transient spawning aggregations showing characteristic timing of
spawning of a Caribbean snapper (mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis ) in the USVI. During the
3 month spawning season (April, May and June), fi sh only aggregate for 7–10 days following the
full moon ( open circle ), with the majority spawning during 2 or 3 consecutive days and for only a
few hours around sunset (• • • • • indicates periods of peak spawning activity during each time
period)
R.S. Nemeth
Tupper 2008 ; Hutchinson and Rhodes 2010 ) . However, the high cost of acoustic tags
and receivers will limit sample size and the area that can be monitored which makes
measurements of migration distances and estimates of catchment area diffi cult using
this technology. Despite their respective weaknesses, these two methods used separately or in combination can provide useful information on the spatial and temporal
aspects of migration which will enhance our understanding of spatial use and improve
information for ecosystem based management (Rhodes and Tupper 2008 ) .
To illustrate the relevant spatio-temporal scales of movement exhibited by species
of fi sh that form spawning aggregations, the focus of this chapter will be transient
aggregators ( sensu Domeier and Colin 1997 , Chapter 1). The FMA during spawning
can be divided, for descriptive purposes, into four possible spatio-temporal scales
that range from largest to smallest: (1) the catchment area encompasses the home
ranges of all spawning adults using a single aggregation site during the annual
reproductive cycle (Fig. 2.1 ), (2) the staging area is where migration pathways begin
to converge and certain aggregating groupers rest, feed or visit cleaning stations
during the spawning season and in the vicinity of the spawning site, (3) the courtship
arena is where males and females begin to interact during the specifi c reproductive
period or lunar phase, and (4) the spawning site is where spawning occurs over a
few hours and for some species may include a core area, (Figs. 2.2 and 2.3 ). While
this information is available for a few species that have been studied in detail, all
four categories may not be applicable to all aggregating species with further studies
required in most cases.
Fig. 2.2 Temporal scales of transient spawning aggregations showing characteristic timing of
spawning of a Caribbean snapper (mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis ) in the USVI. During the
3 month spawning season (April, May and June), fi sh only aggregate for 7–10 days following the
full moon ( open circle ), with the majority spawning during 2 or 3 consecutive days and for only a
few hours around sunset (• • • • • indicates periods of peak spawning activity during each time
period)