Soft-bodied marine invertebrates
comprise a keystone component of ocean ecosystems, however we know little of
their behaviors and physiological responses within their natural habitat.
Quantifying ocean conditions and measuring an organisms’ response to the
physical environment is vital to understanding organismal and population responses to a changing
ocean.
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| Two Loligo forbesi squid, ca. 1 m total length, in a tank in the Azores. The closer animal is fixed with a new, prototype ITAG to record behavior, physiology and environmental parameters. These squid reach more than 1.5 m total length. (pic by J. Fontes) |
The ITAG is a novel, soft-bodied invertebrate eco-sensor tag which has
been initially designed for squid and jellyfish. Attachment to these animals has been challenging due to their
innate body design and relative fragility.
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Images above.
(L) Sutures were used to attach ITAG to the rostrum of Loligo forbesi.
(R) After attachment, the body is measured and morphometrics are captured by
camera.
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| Raw snapshots from HD video of overhead cameras of an ITAGged (top) and untagged squid |
The initial goal of the ITAG work was
threefold: first, design and develop a modular relatively small tag platform
applicable to a potentially diverse array of soft-bodied invertebrates. Second,
use this platform to integrate high-resolution movement data with fine-scale
environmental measurements. Third, test the tool on representative species of
the target taxa of jellyfish and squid.
To this end, a novel soft-bodied invertebrate tag (ITAG) was developed
to record fine-scale animal movement, orientation, dive profiles, and external
environmental conditions (light and temperature). The attachment methods and
initial data from captive deployments on both jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) and squid (Loligo forbesi) are described here.
These initial measurements were paired with video recordings to characterize
specific behavioral signatures recorded by the tag. The results reveal a suite
of behaviors and validate the ability of this new tool to elucidate energetic
trade-offs between recorded swimming behaviors.
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Thus we've tested the
ITAG in the lab on large squid in the Azores (images shown above). We've also
tried it on smaller Doryteuthis pealeii in Woods Hole, with animals in a
flume, with excellent results. We are currently working on a new version of the
tag which will incorporate more sensors and an Argos satellite link for
recovery and eventually data downloads. The tag design leverages modularity to
enable the ITAG to be deployed across taxa.
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| Squid's eye view of the tagging process |
The ITAG work has been supported and
assisted by CoPIs Kakani Katija and Alex Shorter, and with additional help by
Aleck Wang, David Mann, Fritz Sonnichen, P. Afonso, J. Fontes and many others.
This includes in kind support from the FlyingSharks and the Faial Nature Park
for the use of the Porto Pim Aquarium and their assistance and patience during
the trials in Portugal. Steve Spina at New England Aquarium provided the Aurelia
aurita. Dave Remsen at Marine Biological Laboratories and J.H.
Costello at Providence College assisted in the collection of Chrysaora
quinquecirrha and Cyanea capillata, and R. Galat supported the WHOI
facilities. This work was supported by WHOI’s Ocean Life Institute and the
Innovative Technology Program, Hopkins Marine Station’s Marine Life Observatory
(to KK), as well as NSF’s Ocean Acidification Program (to TAM) and NSF's
Instrument Development for Biological Research Program.
Papers published:
Mooney, TA, Katija, K, Shorter, KA, Hurst, T, Fontes, J, and Afonso, P. 2015. An eco-sensor for fine-scale behavioral measurements of soft-bodied marine invertebrates. Animal Biotelemetry. 3 (31): 1-14. doi:10.1186/s40317-015-0076-1ITAG
Long, M, Mooney, TA, and Zarkroff, CA. Extreme low oxygen and decreased pH conditions naturally occur within developing squid egg capsules. Submitted to Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Papers published:
Mooney, TA, Katija, K, Shorter, KA, Hurst, T, Fontes, J, and Afonso, P. 2015. An eco-sensor for fine-scale behavioral measurements of soft-bodied marine invertebrates. Animal Biotelemetry. 3 (31): 1-14. doi:10.1186/s40317-015-0076-1ITAG
Long, M, Mooney, TA, and Zarkroff, CA. Extreme low oxygen and decreased pH conditions naturally occur within developing squid egg capsules. Submitted to Marine Ecology Progress Series.
