Meeting Abstract
Analysis of habitat preference affords us valuable insight into the ecology and behavior of organisms, as well as shedding light onto various strategies of predator avoidance. To study defensive strategies associated with habitat preference, and to better understand how behavior varies with fish size, we analyzed the movement patterns of an intertidal, sand-burying sculpin, Leptocottus armatus, in a size range of individuals collected from the Puget Sound in Washington. L. armatus employs a behavioral defense consisting of rapid lateral movement of the body and pectoral fins to bury itself in sandy substrate. We expected predisposition for this behavior to vary with fish size as small fish may lack the musculature required to displace sufficient sand to cover the fish’s body. Fish provided with a variety of naturally available substrates spent the majority of their time in sandy substrate (relative to cobble), regardless of size and burial inclination. Consistent with our a priori expectations, complete burial was observed more frequently in larger fish and only when they were positioned on sandy substrate. We also found that, in addition to being less likely to bury, smaller fish moved further distances and more frequently during lab trials. Finally, we observed that L. armatus of all sizes have a remarkable ability to produce rapid color changes, a behavior that was previously undescribed. Color changes appeared to be used to mimic substrate pattern and texture, and were highly variable on an individual basis; however, larger fish appeared to be able to produce more complex color patterns, relative to smaller individuals.
