Behavioral repertoire of biparental care inApistogramma trifasciata(Pisces: Cichlidae)

Abstract

Cichlid fish exhibit a complex behavioral repertoire, mainly regarding social and reproductive behaviors. Nevertheless, although dwarf cichlids exhibit a remarkable diversity of behaviors, only a few studies have been conducted with these fish.Apistogramma trifasciata is a common dwarf cichlid in the Neotropics and widely used as ornamental fish. Both males and females are territorial and engage in biparental care. Here we observed the behavior of A. trifasciata males and females to construct an ethogram. We registered the parental care of a couple since the spawn until the moment when the offspring became independent. Striking behaviors were observed, such as male-male contests involving circling displays and mouth wrestling, and parental care, which involved mouth brooding and parental color change. Finally, we suggest that our results may be used to establish this species as a model for parental care and territoriality studies.

Capture and discard practises associated with an ornamental fishery affect the metabolic rate and aerobic capacity of three-striped dwarf cichlids Apistogramma trifasciata

“…Although the exact causes require further study, any asymmetry in the sensitivity of females and males to handling stressors could cause differential effects on reproduction. For example, three-striped dwarf cichlids display biparental care, with the female tending to guard the immediate location around the nest while the male patrols the periphery of the territory ( Mendes et al, 2021 ). Wild Apistogramma spp.…”

“…Assuming brooding fish can find their nest territory after being discarded, compromised defences may result in nest predation or abandonment, like observations in recreational fisheries ( Suski et al, 2003 ). Moreover, although effects of the most severe stress treatment on females were reduced as compared to males, female three-striped dwarf cichlids are known to engage in mouthbrooding behaviour ( Mendes et al, 2021 ), and so any increases in oxygen demand could reduce the ability to engage in this important form of parental care given that mouthbrooding is both energetically costly and may constrain ventilation ( Reardon and Chapman, 2010 ).…”

Observations of Agonistic Behavior between Two Male Gobies Acentrogobius virgatulus (Jordan & Snyder, 1901), in Maizuru Bay, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

“…Te diference between the two recordings of A. virgatulus can likely be attributed to the success and failure of deterrence signaling, which did or did not lead to the escalated aggression of striking and jaw locking. In many species, the encircling lateral display and mouth gaping allow them to primarily present size and deter aggression from smaller conspecifcs [32] as seen in lab-based [10] and in situ observations [7]. It should be acknowledged that the signaling behaviors of A. virgatulus are more conspicuous and not as easily identifed as jaw locking and striking during the SCUBA surveys.…”

“…It is when conspecifcs are of similar size that aggressive interactions escalate and diferent mechanisms for competition can be observed and documented [7]. Tese kinds of interactions are rare and not easily replicated in tank environments [10]. While there are many commonalities in behaviors among families, ethograms of specifc species can be unique.…”