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    • Laboratory experiment, the number of clams consumed by the fish of FLORIDA POMPANO in experimental tanks feeding on coquina clams individually and in groups from 2013-11-26 to 2013-12-03 (NCEI Accession 0127553)

    Metadata Updated: April 1, 2025

    This dataset includes the results from a laboratory experiment assessing whether juvenile Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) foraging success is greater when in groups of multiple fish or when feeding alone. Florida Pompano were given coquina clams (Donax sp.) as a prey source, a main component of their natural diet in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. These data accompany the following peer-reviewed publication title: Facilitation and dominance in a schooling predator: foraging behavior of Florida Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus.

    Presumably an individual's risk of predation is reduced by group membership and this "safety in numbers" concept has been readily applied to investigations of schooling prey; however, foraging in groups may also be beneficial. We tested the hypothesis that, when feeding in groups, foraging of a coastal fish (Florida Pompano, Trachinotus carolinus) on a benthic prey source would be facilitated (i.e., fish feeding in groups will consume more prey items). Although this question has been addressed for other fish species, it has not been previously addressed for Florida Pompano, a fish known to exhibit schooling behavior and that is used for aquaculture, where understanding the feeding ecology is important for healthy and efficient grow-out. In this experiment, juvenile Florida Pompano were offered a fixed number of coquina clams (Donax spp.) for one hour either in a group or as individuals. The following day they were tested in the opposite configuration. Fish in groups achieved greater consumption (average of 26 clams consumed by the entire group) than the individuals comprising the group (average of 14 clams consumed [sum of clams consumed by all individuals of the group]). Fish in groups also had fewer unsuccessful foraging attempts (2.75 compared to 4.75 hr-1) and tended to have a shorter latency until the first feeding activity. Our results suggest fish in groups were more comfortable feeding and more successful in their feeding attempts. Interestingly, the consumption benefit of group foraging was not shared by all - not all fish within a group consumed equal numbers of clams. Taken together, the results support our hypothesis that foraging in a group provides facilitation, but the short-term benefits are not equally shared by all individuals.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date 2025-03-19T23:05:03Z
    Metadata Created Date July 2, 2021
    Metadata Updated Date April 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) May 6, 2015 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Graphic not available.

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2025-03-19T23:05:03Z
    Metadata Created Date July 2, 2021
    Metadata Updated Date April 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) May 6, 2015 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0127553
    Access Constraints Cite as: Schrandt, Meagan; Powers, Sean (2015). Laboratory experiment, the number of clams consumed by the fish of FLORIDA POMPANO in experimental tanks feeding on coquina clams individually and in groups from 2013-11-26 to 2013-12-03 (NCEI Accession 0127553). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0127553. Accessed [date]., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long -88.0778032
    Bbox North Lat 30.2493549
    Bbox South Lat 30.2493549
    Bbox West Long -88.0778032
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Graphic not available.
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0127553
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id c2ee33c7-cf5b-47b4-8168-8d1592398de0
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Point", "coordinates": [-88.0778032, 30.2493549]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2013-11-26
    Temporal Extent End 2013-12-03

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