Abstract
The study of animal movement and use of space have traditionally focused on horizontal and vertical movements separately. However, this may limit the interpretation of results of such behaviours in a three-dimensional environment. Here we use passive acoustic telemetry to visualise and define the three-dimensional use of space by two species of sea snake [Hydrophis (Lapemis) curtus; and Hydrophis elegans] within a coastal embayment and identify changes in how they use space over a diel cycle. Monitored snakes exhibited a clear diel pattern in their use of space, with individuals displaying restricted movements at greater depths during the day, and larger movements on the surface at night. Hydrophis curtus generally occupied space in deep water within the bay, while H. elegans were restricted to mud flats in inundated inter-tidal habitats. The overlap in space used between day and night showed that individuals used different core areas; however, the extent of areas used was similar. This study demonstrates that by incorporating the capacity to dive in analyses of space use by sea snakes, changes over a diel cycle can be identified. Three-dimensional use of space by sea snakes can identify spatial or temporal overlaps with anthropogenic threats (e.g. trawling, dredging) and help develop targeted management policies that mitigate any adverse effects to ensure healthy populations of sea snakes.
Highlights
The study of animal movement and use of space have traditionally focused on horizontal and vertical movements separately
Since aquatic animals live in a three-dimensional environment and have the ability to move in all three dimensions, their use of space is most accurately represented in the same number of dimensions
Two adult female H. curtus and a single adult male H. elegans were monitored; to avoid inaccurate conclusions related to the small sample size of reproductively mature individuals in this study, sex was excluded as a covariate in further analyses
Summary
The study of animal movement and use of space have traditionally focused on horizontal and vertical movements separately. This may limit the interpretation of results of such behaviours in a three-dimensional environment. Studies on the movement and use of space by animals have been represented in two dimensions (e.g. Latitude–Longitude or Easting–Northing); this, may not fully represent the reality of the environment that most animals occupy. Recent advances in technology and analytical techniques have allowed integration of the vertical axis into studies examining the use of space to a high degree of spatial resolution. Past studies have used mark-recapture and genetic studies to infer broad-scale movements and population connectivity between patchy reef environments over large temporal scales [7, 8]
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