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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Activity patterns of Octopus tetricus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) and their behavioural responses to fisheries trap and bait combinations
Marine biology, Vol.171(11), pp.1-14
14/10/2024
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Abstract
An understanding of octopus behaviour and their capture by fishing gears is required to inform efficient, sustainable, and ethical octopus fisheries. Here, the behaviour of Octopus tetricus was assessed in response to different bait and trap combinations in an outdoor mesocosm experiment. Eight wild octopuses were collected, maintained in individual tanks with flow-through seawater and aeration, and monitored with a 24-h video surveillance system. Six different traps and four different baits were presented to each octopus in various combinations during four sequential trials. Fine-mesh crab traps were the most successful in capturing octopus, accounting for 23 of the total 30 captures across all trials. Whereas solid trigger traps produced the greatest number of other interactions (e.g., octopus sitting on trap/in the entrance), averaging 43 interactions per trial, but were rarely triggered. Bait type did not influence octopus capture, trap interaction frequency, or octopus activity; however, only artificial bait types were trialled, and fresh natural baits may elicit a stronger response and should be investigated in future research. Generally, octopus were inactive, dedicating only 9.5% of their total time to active behaviours. Octopus activity varied with time of day, with peak activity during morning daylight (0800–1200) and the lowest activity during the dark hours of the very early morning (0000–0400). Additionally, capture numbers, trap interactions, and activity varied among individuals, with bolder personalities in some octopus. This natural variation among individual octopuses may lead to fishery-induced selection associated with the elevated capture frequency of bold or more active individuals.
Details
- Title
- Activity patterns of Octopus tetricus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) and their behavioural responses to fisheries trap and bait combinations
- Creators
- Adam A. Vrandich - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreBrendan P. Kelaher - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science CentreKarina C. Hall - Southern Cross University, National Marine Science Centre
- Publication Details
- Marine biology, Vol.171(11), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 14
- Grant note
- Open Access funding enabled and organized by CAUL and its Member Institutions. This project was supported by funding from the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (Project No. 2020-008) on behalf of the Australian Government.
- Identifiers
- 991013225780602368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2024
- Academic Unit
- National Marine Science Centre; Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article