MEPS 207:219-224 (2000)  -  doi:10.3354/meps207219

ABSTRACT: Sound is a potentially important navigational cue for organisms in aquatic environments. Most reef fishes produce pelagic larvae that must locate suitable settlement habitat for the completion of their life-cycle. We used light traps and underwater loudspeakers to determine whether reef fish larvae are attracted to sounds produced on a reef. ŒSound traps¹ caught more triplefin (a benthic reef fish) larvae than did Œsilent traps¹, demonstrating that the larvae of some reef fishes may use sound as a navigational cue in the field. Catches of pilchard larvae, a pelagic fish, did not vary between treatments. These results are the first demonstration, of which we are aware, of sound as a potential navigational cue in the aquatic environment.

KEY WORDS: Reef fish · Larvae · Sound · Orientation · Navigation · Light traps