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The habitat preferences of Idiosepius pygmaeus and their use of conspecific cues
  • Tess L. Jenkins,
  • Jan Strugnell,
  • Blake Spady
Tess L. Jenkins
James Cook University College of Science and Engineering

Corresponding Author:tess.jenkins@icloud.com

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Jan Strugnell
James Cook University College of Science and Engineering
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Blake Spady
James Cook University College of Science and Engineering
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Abstract

The two-toned pygmy squid ( Idiosepius pygmaeus, Streenstrup, 1881) is a small, tropical cephalopod that inhabits seagrass meadows and is known to attach to blades of seagrass using a specialised adhesive organ. A global decline in seagrass habitat due to anthropogenic disturbances may threaten the species that rely on seagrass meadows for shelter, foraging and other crucial activities. It is unclear if I. pygmaeus can utilise alternative habitats in the absence of seagrass. Here, we test the effect of habitat type, material and composition type, and the presence of conspecifics on the settlement preferences of I. pygmaeus. Individuals each underwent three separate experiments: 1) testing the preference between their known habitat, Zostera muelleri subsp. Capricorni and potential substitute, Sargassum, 2) testing the preference to attach to a natural or artificial structure of similar shape and size, and 3) testing the preference of identical habitats, one with a conspecific adhered to and one without. We found that I. pygmaeus did not have a strong preference for either Zostera or Sargassum. However, a strong preference was found for attachment to the natural structure over the artificial one. There was also strong evidence for the use of conspecific cues in habitat choice, with 75% of individuals selecting the habitat that contained a conspecific. As habitat loss is the leading cause of species extinction, the knowledge of habitat preferences for I. pygmaeus is vital in order to assess their risk of population decline. The findings of this study suggest that I. pygmaeus could utilise an alternative habitat in the presence of seagrass meadow reduction, which is under threat from human activity.
18 Apr 2023Submitted to Marine Ecology
18 Apr 2023Submission Checks Completed
18 Apr 2023Assigned to Editor
17 May 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Oct 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Oct 20231st Revision Received
26 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
26 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
31 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Nov 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending