On the surface thermal expressions of various reef fish

In this work we present the spatio-temporal characteristics of the surface expressions generated by various species of reef fish in visible and thermal wavebands with the intention of understanding the structures formed during locomotion, station-keeping, and feeding in a large scale aquarium environment. Data collected focused on diurnal events when the majority of the fish were active and overlapped with the feeding cycle of the marine animals. Expressions generated by a sea turtle (1 m) down to smaller fish (0.3 m) were observed and recorded with the resulting surface thermal footprints varying from one meter to several centimeters respectively. Surface thermal wakes and boils were recorded as fish swarmed near the surface, breached the water, and struck at food particles floating on the surface. This collection of surface thermal features serves as a template for expected outcomes in a more complex unconfined environment such as a harbor or blue water.