Data from "Physiological plasticity to water flow habitat in the damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus: linking phenotype to performance"

This study tested whether aspects of swimming physiology and fin shape show plastic responses to unsteady, wave-driven water flow in a laboratory experiment using split-broods of a widespread damselfish ( Acanthochromis polyacanthus ) reared under different flow regimes. We collected fish from 16 broods at Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Eight broods were on the predominantly windward (wave exposed) and eight on the leeward (sheltered) side of the island. We injected individuals from each brood with Visible Implant Elastomer tags to uniquely colour-code siblings.Three individuals from each brood were randomly assigned to a training tank (wave treatment or calm treatment). We measured fin shape (aspect ratio) after 4 and 8 months in the rearing treatment.