| Behavior ecology studies animals’ behavior and the relationship between animals and their environment. Motor behavior is the basic feature of behavior ecology in Apostichopus Japonicus. It directly influenced the aggregation, migration and feeding et al. of A. Japonicus. Behavioural activity rhythm is the behavior of A. Japonicus changing with time. And the behavioral research of A. Japonicus can find out the behavior feature and the behavior reaction to environment. Moreover, the the behavioral research of A. Japonicus can also improve the seed breeding, optimize the aquaculture management and provide theoretical basis for designing facilities of aquaculture and fishing. In this study, we used video technology and behavior analysis software to investigate the motor behavioral rhythm of individual A. japonicus and the reactions to temperature, illumination and water flow by using quantitative indices. The main result of this research is shown as follow.1) Quantitative behavior research method and behavior research platform for A. japonicusTraditional research method restict behavior research. In this study, a quantitative behavior research method for A. japonicus was established. The hardware of this method includes the animal cultivation and behavior experiment unit, the block of video capture, the block of video storage, the block of illuminant control and the block of video analysis. The indoor behavior research platform included 12 CCD cameras, video recording and storage system, illuminant control system and PC terminal for analysis. The outdoor behavior research platform included the underwater time-lapse cameras for short period behavior research and the T-tag technique for medium period behavior research, the biological telemetry of A. japonicus for long-range behavior research.2) The influence of temperature on the motor behavior rhythm of the sea cucumber, A. japonicasThe influence of six temperature conditions(3℃, 6℃, 10℃, 15℃, 20℃,25℃and 28℃) on the motor behavior of large, medium and small sea cucumber, A. japonicus was studied. The result showed that sea cucumbers moved further in distance in 24 h under 20℃ than under 3℃, 10℃, 15℃ and 25℃, than under 6℃ and 28℃.The Cumulative duration of moving within 24 h of sea cucumber was significantly lower under 6℃ than any other temperature conditions. There was no activity peak of A. japonicus in 3℃, 6℃ and 28℃. In 15℃, 20℃ ℃and 25℃, there was only one activity peak which was 16:00-0:00, 22:00-6:00 and 2:00-6:00, respectively. There were two activity peak of A. japonicus in 10℃, which was 16:00-18:00 and 0:00-6:00.3) The influence of illumination on the motor behavior rhythm of the sea cucumber, A. japonicusThe influence of four kinds of light intensity conditions(0 lx, 25.71±6.27 lx, 54.89±9.02 lx and 93.03±5.91 lx), six light color conditions(blue, green, orange, red, white and dark) and four light rhythm conditions(6L:6D, 12L:12D, 24L:0D and 0L:24D) on the motor behavior rhythm of large, medium and small sea cucumber, A. japonicus was studied. The result showed that the critical light intensity for large, medium and small sea cucumbers were 25.71±6.27 lx, 54.89±9.02 lx and 93.03±5.91 lx respectively. The distance moved in 24 h by large individuals in orange light was significantly more than in red, blue, green, white light and dark. The order of distance moved in 24 h by medium individuals was in orange light more than in red, blue and white light more than in green light and dark. For small individuals, there was no significantly difference of distance moved in 24 h between all light color conditions. The light rhythm of 6L:6D can decrease the motor behavior of large and medium sea cucumbers. The light rhythm of 12L:12D can decrease the motor behavior of small sea cucumbers.4) The influence of flow velocity on the motor behavior of the sea cucumber, A. japonicusThe influence of 0 cm s-1, 4.6 ± 0.5 cm s-1, 14.7 ± 0.3 cm s-1 and 29.3 ± 3.7 cm s-1 four kinds flow velocity on the motor behavior of large, medium and small sea cucumber, A. japonicus was studied by indoor annular tank with flow velocitycontrolled system. The result showed that medium sized(19.68 ± 5.53g) and large individuals moved significantly faster than small individuals(2.65 ± 1.24 g) at the same flow rate. A. japonicus moved significantly faster when there was a moderate current(4.6 ± 0.5 cm s-1 and 14.7 ± 0.3 cm s-1), compared with the fast flow rate(29.3 ± 3.7 cm s-1) and when there was no flow(0 cm s-1). Sea cucumbers did not show positive rheotaxis in general, but did move in a downstream direction at faster current speeds. Large, medium and small sized individuals moved downstream at the fastest current speed tested, 29.3 ± 3.7 cm s-1. When there was no water flow, sea cucumbers tended to move in an irregular pattern. The movement patterns show that the sea cucumber, A. japonicus can move across the direction of flow, and can move both upstream and downstream along the direction of flow.5) The motor behavior rhythm feature of A. japonicus in the wildThe track of A. japonicus has been monitor in the wild by using the outdoor behavior research platform established in this research. And we found that A. japonicus and Haliotis discus hanai mixed distribution in patchiness and constituted different groups. The individuals of different groups can be intermigration. A. japonicus has the same rhythms with H. discus hanai that moving more distance in the night time than day time and having two activity peaks respectively in 17:00-19:00 and 19:00-21:00. The motor behavior of A. japonicus has been observed in field enclosure in winter and found that A. japonicus can feeding and excreting when the water temperature was 0.4℃. The activity behavior of A. japonicus had no difference between daytime and nighttime. They only moved along the edge of shelter or inside the shelter and did not move at the open space.This research explored the influence of water temperature, water velocity and illumination on the motor behavior rhythm of A. japonicus by quantitative method. Information on motor behavior rhythm of A. japonicus can extend the knowledge of behavioral ecology in A. japonicus, and provide theoretical basis for designing facilities of aquaculture and fishing. The quantitative behavior research method and behavior research platform established in this research can provide a new reference for behavior research of A. japonicus. |
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