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Spike dives of juvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii): a navigational role?
Citation
Willis, J and Phillips, J and Muheim, R and Diego-Rasilla, FJ and Hobday, AJ, Spike dives of juvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii): a navigational role?, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 64, (1) pp. 57-68. ISSN 0340-5443 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com
DOI: doi:10.1007/s00265-009-0818-2
Abstract
Tunas make sharp descents and ascents around
dawn and dusk called spike dives. We examine spike dives
of 21 southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) implanted
with archival tags in the Great Australian Bight. Using a
new way to categorize this behavior, we show that spike
dives are similar among all the fish in the study. The dive
profiles are mirror images at dawn and dusk and are
precisely timed with respect to sunrise and sunset. We
analyze the possible reasons for spike dives, considering
the timing of spike dives, the characteristic dive profile, and
the tuna's magnetic habitat. In addition, we present
anatomical evidence for elaboration of the pineal organ,
which is light mediated and has been implicated in
navigation in other vertebrates. The new evidence presented
here leads us to suspect that spike dives represent a survey
related to navigation.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Migration . Pineal gland . Compass . Magnetic navigation . Polarized light . Archival tags |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Zoology |
Research Field: | Animal behaviour |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Willis, J (Mr Jay Willis) |
UTAS Author: | Hobday, AJ (Dr Alistair Hobday) |
ID Code: | 62418 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 30 |
Deposited By: | Centre for Marine Science |
Deposited On: | 2010-03-12 |
Last Modified: | 2010-05-12 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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