Agonistic behaviour and control of access to hiding places in two intertidal blennies, Lipophrys pholis and Coryphoblennius galerita (Pisces: Blenniidae)

Abstract

In this study we investigated the relationships between dominance rank and access to shelters in captive groups of Lipophrys pholis and Coryphoblennius galerita, as well as the effects of group size and shelter availability. Dominance rank was strongly correlated with size in juvenile L. pholis and with sex and size in adult C. galerita, males being dominant over females of similar size. Access to shelters was significantly correlated with dominance rank. For both species, most interactions occurred out of shelters. Direct disputes over shelters were always initiated by the dominant fish and the initiator was always the winner. The rate of aggression per fish per unit time decreased with an increase in the number of fish in L. pholis but not in C. galerita. No significant differences were found in groups differing in the number of shelters. C. galerita showed a higher rate of agonistic interactions and a higher proportion of overt aggression than L. pholis. It is suggested that one of the functions of agonistic interactions in these fishes is the control of a set of shelters, in the network of pathways used by each individual within its home range, minimising the time required to hide in case of danger.

Temporal variation of rocky intertidal resident fish assemblages - patterns and possible mechanisms with a note on sampling protocols

“…The studies of other rocky intertidal fish suggest the same pattern (e.g. Almada et al, 1983;Mayr and Berger, 1992;Faria et al, 1998;Faria and Almada, 2001b). Although most studies have been done in captivity and may not be fully applicable to natural conditions, it is plausible that this wide spread agonistic behaviour may help dominant individuals to assure their right to occupy the most favourable sites in a given area, even though they do not occupy permanent territories.…”

“…This hypothesis would also explain the role of agonistic behaviour found in rocky intertidal fishes of many different families, which is present in juveniles and adults of both sexes without any obvious link to reproduction (e.g. Blennidae, Clinidae, Cotidae, Gobiidae, Gobiesocidae, Physidae, Pomacentridae, Sparidae, Tripterygidae) (for reviews see Gibson, 1969Gibson, , 1982Gibson, , 1986Gibson and Yoshiyama, 1999; additional information can be found in Mayr and Berger, 1992;Almada et al, 1996b;Gonc¸alves et al, 1996;Faria et al, 1998;Gonc¸alves and Almada, 1998;Faria and Almada, 2001b;Estabrook et al, 2002). This kind of behaviour, although very common in many rocky intertidal species, is absent or reduced in some other species (e.g.…”

“…Gibson, 1968;Wirtz, 1978;Faria et al, 1998;Faria and Almada, 2001b), those that are most likely to compete for the same type of preferred sites for rest and shelter. In line with the hypothesis outlined above, fish that are unable to get favourable positions in a given pool would be more likely to move out and explore other pools.…”

Age, growth and sex of the shanny, Lipophrys pholis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei, Blenniidae), from the NW coast of Portugal

“…Furthermore, the same study revealed that fish needed to reach a minimum size (TL ~ 19 mm) to begin the settlement process (Carvalho et al., ). After metamorphosis and settlement characterized by pronounced morphological and physiological changes, early juveniles show a typical behaviour associated with a benthic mode of life (Faria & Almada, ; Faria et al., ; Qasim, ). Recruitment of fishes <20 mm ceases 3 months after the end of the breeding season (Faria et al., ).…”

Physiology underpins habitat partitioning in a sympatric sister‐species pair of intertidal fishes

“…Rockpools also provide an ideal opportunity to study habitat partitioning in co‐occurring species, as rockpools are discrete spatial units with high numbers of quantifiable habitat variables (Metaxas & Scheibling 1993; Davis 2000). Mechanisms of resource partitioning in the rocky intertidal include differences in daily activity cycles (Davis 2001), seasonal cycles (Berger & Mayr 1992; Davis 2000), shelter sites (Faria & Almada 2001; Silberschneider & Booth 2001), dietary specialization (Szabo 2002) and vertical zonation (Raffaelli & Hawkins 1996; Zander, Nieder & Martin 1999). Out of these factors, vertical habitat partitioning has been found to be common among intertidal fishes (Zander et al .…”