Revealing Chronotypes Across Aquatic Species Using Acoustic Telemetry

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Acoustic telemetry offers valuable opportunities to investigate individual variability in circadian‐related and other behaviours and how environmental cues shape these patterns in wild fish populations. However, this potential has not yet been fully exploited. We conducted a meta‐analysis on 44 datasets from 34 distinct marine and freshwater species and different types of data (acoustic detections, depth, acceleration and positioning). Our aim was to explore the potential of acoustic telemetry in identifying chronotypes as consistent among‐individual differences in circadian‐related behaviours. First, we applied hidden semi‐Markov models to classify individual time series into active and rest states. Subsequently, we computed two classical circadian‐related behavioural traits: awakening time (as the activity onset) and rest onset (as the activity offset). Subsequently, we identified distinct phenotypes by decomposing behavioural variation into within‐ and among‐individual components based on repeatability scores. We found evidence of distinct chronotypes in 17 species, with average repeatability scores of 0.52 for awakening time and 0.43 for rest onset, revealing that chronotypes are common in aquatic species. Our findings highlight that both the data type, particularly acceleration sensors, and the number of detections are effective tools for exploring chronotypes. Our study proposes a novel approach to characterising daily activity patterns in aquatic species, predominantly in fishes, and provides guidelines for investigating chronotypes across diverse taxa. We emphasise the promise of biotelemetry and advanced statistical models for improving our understanding of the behaviour of aquatic species and highlight the value of synthesising across large data sets collected in networks of biotelemetryprojects.

Source: Fish and Fisheries

DOI: 10.1111/faf.70022

Institutions: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, University of Algarve, Research Institute of Health Sciences, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Wageningen University & Research, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat de la Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Ecologie, Société, Evolution, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Stanisław Sakowicz Inland Fisheries Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, University of Florida, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, University of Iceland, University Centre of the Westfjords, Tel Aviv University, Flanders Marine Institute, Research Institute for Nature and Forest

Language: English

Topic: Circadian rhythm and melatonin

Subfield: Endocrine and Autonomic Systems

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,000

Funders: Agentschap voor Natuur en Bos, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee, European Commission, European Cooperation in Science and Technology, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Norges Forskningsråd, LifeWatch – Niclas Öberg Foundation, Axencia Galega de Innovación, Vlaamse regering, Govern de les Illes Balears, Leibniz-Gemeinschaft, Národní Agentura pro Zemědělský Výzkum, Agencia Estatal de Investigación

OpenAlex ID: W4414454058