Author: David Mann, Ph.D.
Institution: University of South Florida
Year: 2008
Field trips to Mona Island and the West Coast of Puerto Rico and subsequent data analysis have revealed a unique sound associated with male red hind (Epinephelus guttatus) territoriality, which has been identified and characterized. Data corresponds to two months of recordings from long-term acoustic recorders (LARS) that have been collected from two sites on the west coast of Puerto Rico and five sites of Mona Island in 2007 and from two sites at Mona Island in 2008. Recordings showed monthly increases in male red hind sound production; but the peaks in sound production were about 6 days different on the west coast of PR compared to Mona Island 2007-2008. Two extended duration recording LARS were constructed and deployed at each of the sites on the west coast of PR and Mona Island . These recorded for approximately seven months each. They were redeployed in March 2008 and retrieved in March 2009. One recorder lasted 296 days and the other recorder 338 days. A handheld recording unit was used to map the area of sound production over the main red hind site, which overlapped what was found from visual surveys
Spawning behavior of yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) was captured on underwater video cameras. A sound produced by yellowfin grouper was identified from video recordings.
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