ArticlePublisher preview available

Diurnal and semidiurnal movements of two commercially important fish in a tropical bay

Authors:
Alexandre Tisseaux at National University of Costa Rica
Alexandre Tisseaux
Braulio Juarez at Autonomous University of Baja California
Braulio Juarez
J. Mauro Vargas-Hernandez at National University of Costa Rica
J. Mauro Vargas-Hernandez
Juan Pablo Salazar Ceciliano at National University of Costa Rica
Juan Pablo Salazar Ceciliano
Show all 10 authorsHide
Read publisher preview
Download citation
To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the authors.

Abstract and Figures

Biological data collection often overlooks short-term environmental variations, potentially leading to under- or over-estimation of species abundance and ineffective conservation actions. This study investigated the complex relationship between oceanic and meteorological processes and the short-term abundance patterns of two economically important fish species in Bahía Santa Elena, a tropical bay on the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Using two months of continuous acoustic telemetry data from 14 Colorado (Lutjanus colorado) and 16 Pacific dog (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) snappers, we investigated temporal and spatial changes in their relative abundance patterns. A wavelet analysis revealed dominant diurnal and semidiurnal frequencies in both species. The observed semi-diurnal and diurnal periodicity in fish abundance was correlated with water level and sunlight, particularly near the mangrove in the inner bay, suggesting that both species may be using these habitats for food and shelter during periods of high tide and at night. Understanding how oceanic and meteorological conditions influence the dynamics of marine organisms in coastal environments, particularly those that are often exploited by fisheries is crucial for developing effective management and conservation approaches.
Map of Bahía Santa Elena. Black star indicates the water level sensor (Teledyne v50 ADCP) location. The orange dots denote the stations of acoustic receivers. Blue circles enclose four Zones: Zone 1 has receivers near the entrance of a mangrove channel, featuring scattered logs. In Zone 2, receivers are in an area with a combination of logs and rocks. Zone 3 has receivers adjacent to a mangrove channel, with a small rocky reef. In Zone 4, receivers are placed along the central coastline, relatively distant from mangrove channels. Black lines area the bathymetry contours for the bay, numbers in black area the depth labels for those contours. Sources: Tisseaux-Navarro et al. (2021), Atlas (ITCR 2014)
Map of Bahía Santa Elena. Black star indicates the water level sensor (Teledyne v50 ADCP) location. The orange dots denote the stations of acoustic receivers. Blue circles enclose four Zones: Zone 1 has receivers near the entrance of a mangrove channel, featuring scattered logs. In Zone 2, receivers are in an area with a combination of logs and rocks. Zone 3 has receivers adjacent to a mangrove channel, with a small rocky reef. In Zone 4, receivers are placed along the central coastline, relatively distant from mangrove channels. Black lines area the bathymetry contours for the bay, numbers in black area the depth labels for those contours. Sources: Tisseaux-Navarro et al. (2021), Atlas (ITCR 2014)
… 
Abacus plot of hourly time series per zone for Lutjanus colorado and Lutjanus novemfasciatus abundance. Colors represent fish abundance; darker colors mean higher abundance. Abundance denoting specifically the number of unique fish per hour
Abacus plot of hourly time series per zone for Lutjanus colorado and Lutjanus novemfasciatus abundance. Colors represent fish abundance; darker colors mean higher abundance. Abundance denoting specifically the number of unique fish per hour
… 
Wavelet power spectra for time-series acoustic telemetry data of the Colorado snapper (Lutjanus colorado) in Bahía Santa Elena during June and July of 2021. The time series’ periodicities are plotted on the y-axis, while their temporal evolution is shown on the x-axis. Wavelet power is color coded, going from low power in blue to high power in red. Significant regions in the wavelet power spectra are enclosed by red areas with black contour lines (p < 0.05). Pale shaded areas represent the cone of influence, where edge effects might distort the signal, these areas should not be interpreted for further analysis. Panels are for Zone 1 (A & B), Zone 2 (C & D), and Zone 4 (E & F). Left, and right panels are from small fish (A, C & E) and large fish (B, D & F), respectively
Wavelet power spectra for time-series acoustic telemetry data of the Colorado snapper (Lutjanus colorado) in Bahía Santa Elena during June and July of 2021. The time series’ periodicities are plotted on the y-axis, while their temporal evolution is shown on the x-axis. Wavelet power is color coded, going from low power in blue to high power in red. Significant regions in the wavelet power spectra are enclosed by red areas with black contour lines (p < 0.05). Pale shaded areas represent the cone of influence, where edge effects might distort the signal, these areas should not be interpreted for further analysis. Panels are for Zone 1 (A & B), Zone 2 (C & D), and Zone 4 (E & F). Left, and right panels are from small fish (A, C & E) and large fish (B, D & F), respectively
… 
Wavelet power spectra for time-series acoustic telemetry data of the Pacific dog snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) in Bahía Santa Elena during June and July of 2021. Panels are for Zone 1 (A & B), Zone 2 (C & D), Zone 3 (E), and Zone 4 (F & G). Left, and right panels are from small fish (A, C, E & F) and large fish (B, D & G), respectively. For a description of wavelet power spectra see the legend of Fig. 3
Wavelet power spectra for time-series acoustic telemetry data of the Pacific dog snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) in Bahía Santa Elena during June and July of 2021. Panels are for Zone 1 (A & B), Zone 2 (C & D), Zone 3 (E), and Zone 4 (F & G). Left, and right panels are from small fish (A, C, E & F) and large fish (B, D & G), respectively. For a description of wavelet power spectra see the legend of Fig. 3
… 
Wavelet coherence between water level and the Colorado snapper (Lutjanus colorado) in Bahía Santa Elena in June-July of 2021. Panels are for Zone 1 (A & B), Zone 2 (C & D), and Zone 4 (E & F). Left panels are from small fish abundance (A, C, & E), right panels (B, D, & F) are from big fish abundance. Arrows indicate the phase angle between fluctuations of the two time series, rightward-pointing arrows indicate a phase relationship, and leftward-pointing arrows indicate an antiphase relationship
+3
Wavelet coherence between water level and the Colorado snapper (Lutjanus colorado) in Bahía Santa Elena in June-July of 2021. Panels are for Zone 1 (A & B), Zone 2 (C & D), and Zone 4 (E & F). Left panels are from small fish abundance (A, C, & E), right panels (B, D, & F) are from big fish abundance. Arrows indicate the phase angle between fluctuations of the two time series, rightward-pointing arrows indicate a phase relationship, and leftward-pointing arrows indicate an antiphase relationship
… 
Figures - available from: Marine Biology
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
A preview of this full-text is provided by Springer Nature.
Learn more
Content available from Marine Biology
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
ORIGINAL PAPER
Marine Biology (2024) 171:182
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-024-04493-4
Introduction
Coastal habitats such as tropical bays and estuaries are
essential sh habitats for a wide range of species, including
commercially valuable species (Elliott et al. 2007; Vega et
al. 2015; Harborne et al. 2016; Wanjiru et al. 2022; Beh et
al. 2023; da Silva et al. 2023). Mangroves are one of the
many diverse habitats that can be found in tropical bays and
estuaries. Mangroves are recognized as nurseries for many
species of sh, they provide shelter for small organisms
but they also serve as important feeding grounds for larger
predatory species (Sheaves 2005; Sheaves et al. 2017).
Therefore, the conservation of tropical bays and estuaries as
commercial sh habitats is not only important for ecologi-
cal reasons, but also for social and economic sustainability
(Ickowitz et al. 2023). These habitats support the liveli-
hoods of countless shermen who depend on healthy sh
populations for their economic well-being (Londoño et al.
2020; Yamamoto 2022).
The presence of marine organisms in these coastal habi-
tats is inuenced by physico-chemical conditions, such as
Communicated by K. Clements.
Alexandre Tisseaux-Navarro
tisseaux@gmail.com
1 Departamento de Física, Universidad Nacional,
Heredia 86-3000, Costa Rica
2 Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas, Universidad
Autónoma de Baja California, Carretera Ensenada-Tijuana
#3917, Zona Playitas, Ensenada 22860, Baja California,
Mexico
3 Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología,
Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
4 Posgrado en Gestión Integrada de Áreas Costeras Tropicales,
Universidad de Costa Rica, San José 2060-11501, Costa Rica
5 College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University,
Adelaide, SA, Australia
6 School of the Environment, University of Windsor, Windsor,
ON, Canada
Abstract
Biological data collection often overlooks short-term environmental variations, potentially leading to under- or over-
estimation of species abundance and ineective conservation actions. This study investigated the complex relationship
between oceanic and meteorological processes and the short-term abundance patterns of two economically important sh
species in Bahía Santa Elena, a tropical bay on the north Pacic coast of Costa Rica. Using two months of continuous
acoustic telemetry data from 14 Colorado (Lutjanus colorado) and 16 Pacic dog (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) snappers,
we investigated temporal and spatial changes in their relative abundance patterns. A wavelet analysis revealed dominant
diurnal and semidiurnal frequencies in both species. The observed semi-diurnal and diurnal periodicity in sh abundance
was correlated with water level and sunlight, particularly near the mangrove in the inner bay, suggesting that both species
may be using these habitats for food and shelter during periods of high tide and at night. Understanding how oceanic and
meteorological conditions inuence the dynamics of marine organisms in coastal environments, particularly those that are
often exploited by sheries is crucial for developing eective management and conservation approaches.
Keywords Lutjanidae · Acoustic telemetry · Tide · Wavelet analysis · Mangrove · Costa Rica
Received: 26 August 2023 / Accepted: 20 July 2024 / Published online: 22 August 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2024
Diurnal and semidiurnal movements of two commercially important
sh in a tropical bay
AlexandreTisseaux-Navarro1,2 · BraulioJuárez2· José MauroVargas-Hernández1· Juan PabloSalazar-Ceciliano1·
SergioCambronero-Solano1· Amaia RuizdeAlegría-Arzaburu1· LucíaVargas-Araya3,4· JordanMatley5·
Aaron T.Fisk6· MarioEspinoza3
1 3
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
Evidence of shifts in habitat use of two snappers (Lutjanidae) in a tropical estuarine bay subjected to seasonal upwelling
Article
  • Jan 2025
  • MAR ECOL-PROG SER
ABSTRACT: Biological and environmental conditions are drivers of fish habitat use, making it essential to understand how fish move and use specific areas to inform effective fisheries management and conservation. This study quantified the residency and habitat use patterns of the juveniles and early adults of 2 commercially exploited snappers (Lutjanidae) in Santa Elena Bay, a tropical estuarine embayment influenced by a seasonal upwelling in the north Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Using an array of 28 acoustic receivers, we monitored 14 Colorado Lutjanus colorado (28.848.9 cm) and 16 Pacific dog L. novemfasciatus (22.5–49.3 cm) snappers over 22 mo. Both species were detected inside the bay over 60 % of the monitoring days, showing higher relative abundance in mangrove and transitional estuarine habitats. Throughout the study, a shift in habitat use was observed for both species. Individuals moved from mangrove and transitional habitats to the outer reef habitat and exhibited a decreasing occurrence probability over time, suggesting they leave the bay as they mature. Season and environmental variables, e.g. temperature, had minimal or no effect on the occurrence of the tracked snappers in the bay. However, roaming varied seasonally, increasing during upwelling periods. These results suggest that habitat connectivity facilitates gradual life stage transitions, indicating that Santa Elena Bay likely supports essential fish habitat for commercially important species, particularly for L. novemfasciatus. Results also highlight the importance of integrating knowledge of the complex interplay of biological components (e.g. developmental and intra- and interspecific interactions) and seasonal habitat dynamics into conservation and management strategies.
View
View
From fisher tales to scientific evidence: revealing the significance of estuarine and mangrove habitats as nursery grounds for juveniles of the largest Atlantic Ocean snapper
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2023
The knowledge held by local and indigenous communities has been recognized as an invaluable yet underused resource for understanding how the environment, local conditions, and fish populations change over time. Empirical information on population sizes, ecology, and threats to fish species and their habitats can be complemented with local knowledge to better guide management and conservation efforts, particularly for understudied species. Here, we investigated the habitat preferences, population status, fishing, sightings patterns, threats, and habitat characteristics of juveniles of the cubera snapper, the largest snapper in the Atlantic Ocean. We used a combination of empirical evidence from underwater surveys by using small-action cameras and an ethnological perspective based on fishers’ perceptions who are cubera-snapper fishing specialists to have a comprehensive understanding of the species and habitat use during its early life stages. A range of estuarine habitats was examined over a year to assess the association between cubera snapper juveniles and different estuarine characteristics and conservation scenarios. Both sources of data indicated that cubera snapper juveniles heavily rely on mangrove habitats, exhibiting a clear temporal pattern of residence within these habitats. However, the probability of occurrence varied based on the level of coastal development in each estuarine system. Estuaries with small drainage areas, directly connected to the ocean, and presenting larger mangrove areas accounted for the highest abundances of juveniles. Factors such as mangrove removal, overfishing, and water pollution significantly reduced the occurrence and reliance of cubera snapper juveniles in the studied estuaries. The study represents the first attempt to shed light on the ecological aspects of cubera snapper juveniles, addressing a gap in their life cycle. It underscores the importance of integrating complementary sources of evidence to understand the relationships between the crucial life stage of cubera snappers, their habitats, and the threats they face. The ecological and ethnographic knowledge gained from this research should be incorporated into biomonitoring and conservation policy to effectively preserve this vulnerable top predator.
View
Characterization of supply of marine finfish species with potential for commercial growth in the United States
Article
Full-text available
Global production of marine finfish has grown in total volume of production and the number of species farmed commercially, but there has been little production in the United States of marine finfish other than salmon and red drum. For most species considered to be ready for commercialization, there are few or no farms from which to evaluate the size of the market or to estimate revenues and costs necessary to assess economic feasibility. This present study takes a first step to fill this gap with an analysis of the existing supply of 20 marine finfish species identified as candidates for commercialization in the United States, as a proxy for effective demand (the volume of a product sold at the market equilibrium price). Secondary data from 1950 (where available) through 2019 were compiled on each species, including (1) global aquaculture production, (2) US aquaculture production, (3) US commercial landings, (4) US recreational landings, and (5) imports. Current effective market demand (measured as the sum of commercial landings, farmed production, and imports) was low, totaling 36.6 million kg across the 20 species, which is equivalent to less than 23% of the annual volume sold of US farmed catfish. Commercial landings for 17 of the 20 species exhibited declines, potentially offering opportunities for farmed product to capture market share by filling the increasing gaps in supply. The variability in commercial landings provides opportunities for farms to capitalize on their advantage in supplying product with a high degree of consistency of volume, size, delivery frequency, and quality. Several unknown factors suggest the need for follow‐up studies on consumer preferences, degree of substitutability among finfish species, and effects of recreational landings on demand. An important limitation to prospective producers is the lack of species‐specific import data for the generic categories of “flounder,” “bass,” and “snapper.” This supply analysis provides a foundational analysis for prospective producers, investors, and researchers interested in commercialization of these marine species.
View
Length-Weight Relationships and Other Morphological Traits of Fishes in the Mangrove of Hainan, China
Article
Full-text available
  • Sep 2022
The length–weight relationships (LWR) and other morphological traits for 6417 specimens in 74 fish species collected seasonally, from July 2020 to April 2021, in the mangrove of Dongzhaigang Bay, Hainan Province, China, are presented. This involved, for all species, a sample size, and minimum and maximum lengths; in addition, for most species, it involved linear relationships between the standard length and body height and width, the height of the caudal peduncle, the pectoral fin length, and the eye diameter. This extensive coverage of mangrove-resident fish species (as opposed to species using the mangrove only as a nursery) is a first for Hainan. The various morphological traits of the mangrove fish are, for several species, the first to be published since these species’ original descriptions.
View
View
Upwelling-induced inflow pulses in a tropical bay during mid-summer drought
Article
  • Apr 2024
Bahía Santa Elena is a tropical bay located in the northern Pacific region of Costa Rica. This region experiences a period of reduced precipitation from July to August, known as mid-summer drought, induced by the intensification of northeastern winds from the Caribbean Low-Level Jet. Intensification of upwelling-favorable winds can cool surface waters adjacent to the bay, leading to a reduction in water temperatures within the bay, that alters the biological dynamics of coastal habitats. This study aims to analyze upwelling-induced inflow pulses in Bahía Santa Elena during mid-summer drought, focusing on the cooling effect of intensified upwelling-favorable winds and the subsequent warm water inflows following wind relaxation. We conducted two measuring campaigns from June to July in 2021 and in 2022. The first campaign consisted of a single acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) moored inside the bay. The second campaign consisted of two mooring deployments: an ADCP with a thermistor chain inside the bay and an ADCP installed at the inlet. Each campaign presented five distinct events of upwelled water inflows into the bay promoted by an offshore Ekman transport. Upwelling-favorable wind peaks were followed by a decrease in temperature of the water column. When the upwelling-favorable wind relaxed, a warm water pulse entered the bay. These events are expected to play an important role in biological processes within tropical bays adjacent to upwelling zones during mid-summer drought.
View
View
View
Introduction to Estuarine Hydrodynamics
Book
  • Feb 2022
This textbook provides an in-depth overview of the hydrodynamics of estuaries and semi-enclosed bodies of water. It begins by describing the typical classification of estuaries, followed by a presentation of the quantitative tools needed to study these basins: conservation of mass, salt, heat, momentum, and the thermodynamic equation of seawater. Further topics explore tides in homogeneous basins, including shallow water tides and tidal residual flows, wind-driven flows in homogeneous basins, density-driven flows, as well as interactions among tides, winds and density gradients. The book proposes a classification of semi-enclosed basins that is based on dominant dynamics, comparing forcing agents and restorative or balancing forces. Introduction to Estuarine Hydrodynamics provides an introduction for advanced students and researchers across a range of disciplines - Earth science, environmental science, biology, chemistry, geology, hydrology, physics - related to the study of estuarine systems.
View
Composition and structure of the mangrove fish and crustacean communities of Vanga Bay, Kenya
Article
  • Feb 2022
Mangroves support coastal fisheries, particularly by providing nurseries for juvenile fish. However, much remains unknown about the fish and crustacean communities in mangroves and about the lifecycles and behaviours of individual species. This study is the first to describe the fish and crustacean communities in the Vanga mangrove ecosystem, the largest mangrove forest and the most important marine fisheries landing site in southern Kenya. Using fyke nets, 14 mangrove creek sites were sampled once every 3 months during spring tides, between September 2015 and September 2017. The sampling period covered the north east (NEM) and south east (SEM) monsoon seasons. A total of 1,879 fishes and 1,132 crustaceans were caught, represented by 59 and 16 species, respectively. Over 95 % of the fishes caught were juveniles with 50 % of both fish and crustacean species being of commercial importance. About 70 % of the catch was dominated by only 6 fish species with Yarica hyalosoma and Acropoma japonicum contributing 44 % of the total abundance. Penaeus semisulcatus and Penaeus indicus dominated the crustaceans. Fish abundances differed significantly between seasons, with the SEM catches almost three times higher than those in the NEM, while crustaceans displayed no clear seasonality. The study documents for the first time the fish and crustacean communities in Vanga mangroves and confirms their importance as juvenile habitat for commercial species. The importance of mangrove and near mangrove habitat as nursery habitat for both fish and crustaceans emphasizes the need for conservation particularly of seaward edges
View