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Variation in search and predatory attack strategies of shark mackerel Grammatorcynus bicarinatus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2008

Peter J. Auster
Peter J. Auster*
Affiliation:
National Undersea Research Center and Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, Groton, CT 06340, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Peter J. Auster National Undersea Research Center and Department of Marine SciencesUniversity of Connecticut at Avery PointGroton, CT 06340, USA email: [email protected]
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Abstract

I observed shark mackerel demonstrating multiple search and attack strategies. Strategies were categorized as three distinct types: (1) a linear search by single or groups of fish along reef features; (2) ambush from a stationary position on the seafloor; and (3) ambush from resting schools of co-occurring predators. Together these strategies were consistent with both information-sharing and producer–scrounger models of group foraging and indicate significant flexibility in individual fish foraging behaviour based on proximate conditions.

Keywords

behaviourpredationpreycoral reefreef fishcamouflage
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 847 - 849
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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References

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