Researcher helps shine light on tool-using tuskfish
Published on 11 July, 2011
CQUniversity's Dr Alison Jones has helped shine light on a rare observation in the wild, providing evidence for the use of tools by marine fish...
Dr Jones and colleague Dr Culum Brown from Macquarie University have reported the evidence in the latest edition of Coral Reefs, the Journal of the International Society for Reef Studies, based on photos taken in the Keppel section of the reef by professional diver Scott Gardner (who is based at Emu Park).
The diver heard a cracking noise and observed a tuskfish grasping a cockle shell in its mouth before rolling onto its side to land alternate blows on the rock until the shell fractured. The report says use of the rock as an anvil rather than a hammer could be considered a sign of intelligence.
Dr Jones is part of the Centre for Environmental Management at CQUniversity.
LINK HERE for the full article or LINK HERE for ScienceNow coverage about the tool-using tuskfish
Meanwhile, Dr Jones also features in the latest Pacific Ecologist publication, in an article by Lowy Institute for International Policy visiting scholar Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Floyd, entitled Prospects for Pacific maritime security co-operation 'of coral made'.
The article mentions that Dr Jones' 2010 presentation on marine 'refugia' in the Great Barrier Reef stimulated thought on maritime security cooperation at national and international levels.
"Dr Jones' and Dr Ray Berkelmans' research is also valuable at the international level, with its potential as a marine and fisheries resources management tool for Australia's Pacific and South-east Asian neighbours to help them secure their marine resources," the article says.
Dr Jones is quoted as saying "many of the world's marine reserves have been chosen to protect fish populations rather than to protect the structural coral species that underwrite the entire reef system".
