Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Beulig, Alfred

Keywords

Frogfish, Antennarius pictus, Antennatus coccineus, Antennarius biocellatus, Vagility

Area of Concentration

Marine Biology

Abstract

Frogfish of the family Antennariidae are small reef predators that rely on highly evolved, and adaptable camouflage to forage. This study focused on the following species; Antennarius pictus, Antennatus coccineus, and Antennarius biocellatus. These organisms are often seen to associate with sponges, tunicates and macro-algae which are at great risk due to environmental pollution. Vagility is defined here as the ability for frogfish to explore and interact with their environment. This study examined frogfish vagility and structure selection, comparing natural sponge structure and artificial plastic structures. It was found that frogfish generally selected sponge structures over plastic structures. There was also an overall trend of frogfish associating with sponge structures more than plastic structures. This indicates large plastic objects on reef habitats reduce frogfish vagility. As frogfish vagility is reduced it can be inferred that the fitness of frogfish populations will also be reduced.

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