Assessing use of passive acoustic detection to document behavior of two sympatric pomacentrid species
Pilzer, Sarah Jean
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Videotape and audio recordings of a patch reef in Ant Atoll, Pohnpei, Micronesia were analyzed for the presence of bioacoustic activity produced by species of the teleost family Pomacentridae. The acoustic parameters of fish calls were measured and then identified as belonging to either Amphiprion melanopus or Stegastes nigricans. Visual and statistical methods of analysis were combined to compare the calls of the two species and to test for measurable differences in the acoustic parameters of their calls. Soundscape data showed similar patterns to previously observed tropical reef environments. Fish produced single or multi-pulsed calls in the frequency range of 0-1000 Hz that were often accompanied by observable behaviors such as a chases and displays of dominance. Results indicated that the species on this atoll produce similar calls that cannot be distinguished using acoustic data alone. Visual confirmation was necessary for definitive identification of sound producers and in many cases was not possible beyond the family level. Implications for passive acoustic monitoring are that acoustic data collection alone may be able to capture fish abundance but may not be sufficient to fully capture species richness in regions where populations of closely related fish have similar signals.