The Bulletin of Marine Science presents
Symposium themes
The Bulletin of Marine Science encourages presentations to the symposium from all fields of marine research pertaining to night fish. Although the focus is on marine ecosystems, relevant contributions from inland waters will also be considered. Anyone interested in the subject matter can attend the symposium. Those who wish to participate without making a poster or oral presentation are welcome.
The Fish At Night scientific program will consist of different themes that will make up the various symposium sessions. Upon registration and submission, you will be asked to select the theme that pertains to your topic, and to select oral or poster presentation for each intended contribution. If you are unable to find or match a theme that pertains to your field of expertise, please select “Other” at time of submission.
List of themes
Theme 1. Nocturnal fish behavior and ecology
Studies under this theme may entail quantifying nighttime activity/movement patterns, predator-prey interactions, foraging/predator avoidance strategies, sensory capabilities, vocalization, and ecophysiological preferences/constraints.
Theme 2. Night fishing, fisheries, and enforcement
Studies under this theme may focus on fishing, fisheries, and enforcement during darkness. Relevant research may include use of lights at night to harvest, sample or enhance catches. Other areas include work that addresses the challenges in fishery monitoring and law enforcement under conditions of low light.
Theme 3. Deep and polar sea (“perpetual night”) fish and fisheries
Studies under this theme might include ecological or fishery science investigations of fishes living in the prevailing darkness of deep and/or polar seas. This may include empirical work on their unique biological adaptations related to sensory physiology and communication (i.e., bioluminescence).
Theme 4. Diel fish distribution and abundance comparisons
Studies under this theme may be comparisons of fish distribution (vertical/horizontal) and abundance by day versus night or throughout the 24-hr cycle. Research that identifies the processes behind distribution and abundance patterns are preferred. Also relevant are studies that consider how diel patterns influence stock assessment.
Theme 5. Methods for studying fish in darkness
Studies under this theme may seek to test methods, tools, and approaches for quantifying fish abundance and/or behavior at night. Presentation of new, novel and generally feasible techniques is encouraged.
Theme 6. Human threats to fish at night
Studies under this theme may investigate anthropogenic effects which effectively “leave fish in the dark” (e.g., high sediment loads) or studies that investigate light pollution effects on fishes, where nocturnal light levels from human sources are pushed well beyond “natural” levels.
Theme 7. Larval fish at night
From acoustic activity to unique settlement patterns, fish larvae can also show different behaviors at night. This theme will focus on studies of all aspects of the ecology and biology of larval fish at night, and the challenges and innovations that are important to our understanding of this elusive community.
