| Type |
Article |
| Date |
2009-07 |
| Language |
English |
| Author(s) |
Millot Sandie1, Begout Marie-Laure 1 |
| Affiliation(s) |
1 : IFREMER, LRHLR, F-17137 Lhoumeau, France. |
| Source |
Aquatic Living Resources (0990-7440) (EDP Sciences), 2009-07 , Vol. 22 , N. 3 , P. 363-370 |
| DOI |
10.1051/alr/2009048 |
| WOS© Times Cited |
25 |
| Keyword(s) |
Dicentrarchus labrax, Self feeder, Social interactions, Feed demand leader, Feeding rhythms |
| Abstract |
The long term influence of individual biological rhythms on group feed demand behaviour was investigated in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) held under controlled environmental conditions with an on-demand feeding system. The experiment was realized over 219 days with 190 fish distributed on 4 tanks. Sea bass had a mean body mass comprised between 139 g to 183 g. The number of feed demand acts by each individual was calculated daily, and the population could thus be partitioned into three categories (high-, low-and zero-triggering fish). The duration of the period that an individual held high-triggering status could vary, but was 63 +/- 16 days on average. The transition period between two highest-triggering fish in one tank was on average 4 +/- 4 days. The group feeding rhythm followed the same pattern of feed demand rhythm as the highest-triggering individual fish. When the highest-triggering fish was nocturnal, the totality of feed demand in the group was realized during the night with one peak at 22:00, corresponding to dusk under experimental conditions. When the highest-triggering fish was diurnal, the majority of feed demand in the group was realized during the light period with one peak at 06:00, corresponding to dawn, and/or another at 12:00. This study therefore highlights that sea bass group feeding behaviour is not the sum of individual feed demand behaviours, but is directed by the rhythm and behaviour of a few high-triggering fish. The regular changes of high-triggering fish in the group proved that it was not the identity of these particular fish that was most important for the group, but their role as a feed demand leader. |
| Full Text |
| File |
Pages |
Size |
Access |
| publication-6874.pdf |
8 |
451 KB |
Open access |
|
