Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats

Animal movements and the associated energy costs dictate an individual’s scope for activity and habitat use. Yet in situ measurements of movement often fail to quantify whole-body movement and their physiological costs. These challenges lead to data gaps connecting how movement behaviours and energy...

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Main Authors: Seth Cones, Nathan Formel, Jorge Fontes, Pedro Afonso, K. Alex Shorter, Gonçalo Graça, C. Robert Priester, Diya Das, T. Aran Mooney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Royal Society 2025-07-01
Series:Royal Society Open Science
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Online Access:https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250321
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author Seth Cones
Nathan Formel
Jorge Fontes
Pedro Afonso
K. Alex Shorter
Gonçalo Graça
C. Robert Priester
Diya Das
T. Aran Mooney
author_facet Seth Cones
Nathan Formel
Jorge Fontes
Pedro Afonso
K. Alex Shorter
Gonçalo Graça
C. Robert Priester
Diya Das
T. Aran Mooney
author_sort Seth Cones
collection DOAJ
description Animal movements and the associated energy costs dictate an individual’s scope for activity and habitat use. Yet in situ measurements of movement often fail to quantify whole-body movement and their physiological costs. These challenges lead to data gaps connecting how movement behaviours and energy output interact to constrain species’ biogeography. Here we combined swim tunnel respirometry and multi-positional field biologging data to estimate the energy output of squid (Loligo forbesii), an ecologically key marine invertebrate. Laboratory respirometry experiments revealed a strong correlation between body mass and metabolic rate during fin-contributed swimming, enabling energy cost estimates in the wild. Free-ranging squid enacted dynamic and diverse fin and jet swimming that varied on short time scales. Animals largely selected (66%) low-amplitude fin-contributed movements where fin waves propagated metachronally. Higher amplitude fin and jet movements were rare, accounting for 4% of time budgets. Application of the bioenergetic model on naturally exhibited behaviours estimated that animals consumed 3117 ± 532 mg O2 per day to fuel the predominant metachronal fin movements, an expenditure energetically comparable to that of similar-niche fishes. These unique data reveal substantial behavioural flexibility and indicate squid prefer low-cost movement behaviours that may enable squids’ high growth rates and successful competition with fishes.
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spelling doaj-art-77e4ec9d0fb049059f22f72f0406f89c2025-08-20T03:55:53ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-07-0112710.1098/rsos.250321Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitatsSeth Cones0Nathan Formel1Jorge Fontes2Pedro Afonso3K. Alex Shorter4Gonçalo Graça5C. Robert Priester6Diya Das7T. Aran Mooney8Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USADepartment of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USAInstitute of Marine Sciences—OKEANOS, University of the Azores, Horta, PortugalInstitute of Marine Sciences—OKEANOS, University of the Azores, Horta, PortugalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USAFlying Sharks, Horta, PortugalInstitute of Marine Sciences—OKEANOS, University of the Azores, Horta, PortugalInstitute of Marine Sciences—OKEANOS, University of the Azores, Horta, PortugalDepartment of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USAAnimal movements and the associated energy costs dictate an individual’s scope for activity and habitat use. Yet in situ measurements of movement often fail to quantify whole-body movement and their physiological costs. These challenges lead to data gaps connecting how movement behaviours and energy output interact to constrain species’ biogeography. Here we combined swim tunnel respirometry and multi-positional field biologging data to estimate the energy output of squid (Loligo forbesii), an ecologically key marine invertebrate. Laboratory respirometry experiments revealed a strong correlation between body mass and metabolic rate during fin-contributed swimming, enabling energy cost estimates in the wild. Free-ranging squid enacted dynamic and diverse fin and jet swimming that varied on short time scales. Animals largely selected (66%) low-amplitude fin-contributed movements where fin waves propagated metachronally. Higher amplitude fin and jet movements were rare, accounting for 4% of time budgets. Application of the bioenergetic model on naturally exhibited behaviours estimated that animals consumed 3117 ± 532 mg O2 per day to fuel the predominant metachronal fin movements, an expenditure energetically comparable to that of similar-niche fishes. These unique data reveal substantial behavioural flexibility and indicate squid prefer low-cost movement behaviours that may enable squids’ high growth rates and successful competition with fishes.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250321kinematicsbehaviourrespirometryenergetics
spellingShingle Seth Cones
Nathan Formel
Jorge Fontes
Pedro Afonso
K. Alex Shorter
Gonçalo Graça
C. Robert Priester
Diya Das
T. Aran Mooney
Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
Royal Society Open Science
kinematics
behaviour
respirometry
energetics
title Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
title_full Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
title_fullStr Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
title_full_unstemmed Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
title_short Prominent fin-contributed swimming in squid (Loligo forbesii) supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
title_sort prominent fin contributed swimming in squid loligo forbesii supports efficient movement in seamount habitats
topic kinematics
behaviour
respirometry
energetics
url https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.250321
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