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USGS · 70208728

An association between a cusk eel (Bassozetus sp.) and a black coral (Schizopathes sp.) in the deep western Indian Ocean

Andrew R. Gates·Kirsty Morris·Daniel O.B. Jones·Kenneth J. Sulak
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Abstract

Detailed observations in the deep sea can reveal previously unknown behaviour, species interactions and fine-scale habitat heterogeneity. Here, the first in situ images of the black coral Schizopathes sp. (Anthozoa: Antipatharia) in the deep western Indian Ocean have been obtained from remotely operated vehicle video footage and time-lapse photography. In these images, there appears to be an association with the cusk eel Bassozetus (Family: Ophidiidae). In the primary observation, chance encounters revealed the fish interacted with the anitpatharian on multiple occasions over several days. Subsequent time-lapse camera footage showed the fish remained almost exclusively underneath the antipatharian for the duration of a 30-h deployment. Excursions from the cover of the antipatharian were for less than 2 min. The primary observation is supported by two similar encounters in the same region. Observed reduction in the tail-beat frequency of the fish under the antipatharian suggests reduced energy requirements for the ophidiid in this position. The observations demonstrate the role that even individual coral colonies play as a source of three-dimensional structure, providing habitat heterogeneity in the deep sea.

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Marine Biodiversity RecordsArticle
90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: -41.244772343082076° to 10.833305983642491° latitude; 55.1953125° to 112.5° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Andrew R. Gates, Kirsty Morris, Daniel O.B. Jones, Kenneth J. Sulak. 2016-06-28. An association between a cusk eel (Bassozetus sp.) and a black coral (Schizopathes sp.) in the deep western Indian Ocean. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-016-0516-z

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