15.
Following a friendly fish
1 hr •
4
)
Concepts
Fish structure
Fish behaviour
Interrelationships
Adaptations
Aim
• To investigate the lifestyle of a single fish.
This activity consists of two parts an introductory exercise and an in-depth
exercise for those who wish to investigate their fish further.
You will need
Skills
• Snorkelling gear and appropriate protection from sun
Observing
• Underwater slate and pencil
Recording
underwater
Attitudes
What to do
Appreciation of
Introductory activity
natural
1. in a reef pool or harbour follow a particular fish quietly. (A sweetlip or bream
environments
is suggested.)
Confidence in
2. Observe its feeding behaviour. How much searching and "working" for food
making and
is performed?
recording
3. What structural adaptations possessed by the fish help it to find and take its
observations
food?
In-depth activity a single fish
4. Select one fish which you can observe carefully. (A parrotfish, butterfly fish or
puffer fish is suggested.)
(a) Observe and record
its
general structure. Note its size; sketch it, noting
scale; record exact colour patterns, relative size and position of fins, size,
shape and position of mouth.
(b) Observe and record its
• method of locomotion (note use of all fins, tail, etc.)
• method of catching/obtaining food and ingesting snorkel around
with the fish to observe
• method of perceiving and reacting to the environment
• sense organs
• response to changes (waves/depths/other fish/other groups/you)
• special behaviour, e.g. territoriality, special relationships (symbiotic,
commensal, parasitic).
Note:
To get definitive data you will need to devise a record sheet which
• is easy to use and record on in the field,
• allows you to record factual data such as measurements, numbers.
• allows you to obtain statistically valid data, i.e., number of
observations, to enable you to put forward an hypothesis on
behaviour.
5. After
your snorkel, identify your fish by reading.
Ideas for further things to do
6. Refer to the books listed below and compare the authors' notes with your
own observations.
7. Check previous research findings on the species you've observed.
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