Diel Behavior in White Perch Revealed using Acoustic Telemetry

Abstract

Acoustic telemetry was used to investigate small-scale movement and behavior of semi-anadromous White Perch Morone americana in New York's Great South Bay system. Fifteen Vemco VR2 acoustic receivers were deployed in the main channel of the lower Carmans River. Of the 40 fish that were tagged with Vemco V9 acoustic transmitters from August 2010 to 2011, 15 fish returned at least 28 d of movement data. Acoustic tracking revealed that adult White Perch exhibited upstream and downstream diel movement within the Carmans River, a behavior that has not been previously described in adults of this species. Movements were tested for cyclical patterns by using autocorrelation analysis. The frequency of diel behavior (f) across individuals was found to be dependent on season: frequency was significantly reduced in winter (f = 13.8%) and was maximized in summer (f = 49.4% in 2010; f = 57.5% in 2011). Directionality in diel movement was also seasonal; nightly upstream movements were favored in summer and fall months, and nightly downstream movements were preferred in winter. Diel behavior was affected by temperature and salinity, with high salinities and low temperatures reducing the frequency of occurrence.

Received March 24, 2014; accepted June 17, 2014