Newswise — Sex in the water - among cuttlefish - could boost tourism in a coastal region of Australia, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.
The Giant Australian Cuttlefish is a significant part of ecotourism in South Australia's upper Spencer Gulf because of its "crazy" mating behaviour. The cuttlefish congregate in dense numbers and in shallow depths, providing a spectacle for divers and snorklers.
Dr Bronwyn Gillanders (School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide) and Dr Steve Donnellan (Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum) are leading a team of researchers that aims to learn more about the population structure and movements of cuttlefish. This is critical to the sustainable management of the species and the design of a marine protected area in the upper Spencer Gulf.
Among the cuttlefish's range of unusual sexual antics is "sneaky sex" , where the physically smaller males, who can't compete with larger males, "cross-dress" . The smaller males change body colour and trick the stronger males into thinking they're females. When the strong males are not looking, the smaller males change colour again and quickly mate with the females.
This can be exciting viewing for tourists, but the cephalopod species (including cuttlefish, squid and octopus) are an important resource for fishing, and their reputation as a delicacy in restaurants has led to the demise of many species.
"Preventing long-term harm to the Giant Australian Cuttlefish population is a major concern," Dr Gillanders says. "We aim to protect the marine ecology, while at the same time provide unique benefits to the fishing and ecotourism industries, and South Australia's economy."
To better understand the Giant Australian Cuttlefish's breeding locations and population, South Australian divers and fishermen " especially those outside the upper Spencer Gulf " are being urged to spy on mating cuttlefish and report back on areas where cuttlefish are found in large numbers.
"The public's efforts will be vitally important in providing information about where cuttlefish are laying eggs," Dr Gillanders says.
"Although cuttlefish's sexual antics are a wonderful display to divers and snorklers, the fact is that the cuttlefish will die soon after they've laid their eggs. This gives us a window of only two or three months from now " following on from their mating season " to gather as much information as we can from willing members of the community."
A hi-res photo of a Giant Australian Cuttlefish can be found here:http://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news1181.html
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