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Response to underwater laser pointer in the Orange‐finned Anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus and three‐spot damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus
Author(s) -
Cohn Emilie,
Cole Patrick,
Haymaker Amanda,
Garner Austin M.,
Londraville Richard L.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.14192
Subject(s) - damselfish , biology , laser pointer , orange (colour) , zoology , ethogram , ecology , fishery , habitat , laser , coral reef fish , physics , horticulture , optics
Response of orange‐finned anemonefish Amphiprion chrysopterus and three‐spot damselfish Dascyllus trimaculatus to red laser‐pointer light was studied in Mo'orea, French Polynesia. Four magnificent anemones Heteractis magnifica and their resident fish were observed for typical behaviours (biting, chasing, hiding, posing, lunging and retreating) with and without exposure to laser‐pointer light. Lunging behaviour increased significantly for both fish species upon exposure to laser‐pointer light; none of the other behaviours changed significantly. We advance the hypothesis that orange‐finned anemonefish and three‐spot damselfish interpret laser pointer stimulation as a territorial threat.