Female ornamentation and egg carotenoids of six sympatric gobies

Abstract

Belly colouration, gonad carotenoid concentration and skin transparency were quantified in gravid Gobiusculus flavescens, as well as in females of five sympatric gobies where belly ornamentation has not been described. Although G. flavescens females did, indeed, have far more colourful bellies than the other species, this could only in part be explained by a high concentration of total gonad carotenoids. Comparable, or occasionally higher, carotenoid levels were found in the gonads of other species. Instead, the unusual ornamentation of G. flavescens arises from a unique combination of carotenoid-rich gonads and a highly transparent abdominal skin.

Comparative morphology of gonads from six species of fish belonging to the family Anostomidae (Characiformes: Anostomidae)

“…herbivory (Alvim & Peret, 2004). Pigments such as astaxanthin, lutein, taraxanthin, and other carotenoids on the yellow ⁄orange yolk coloration have been largely studied in species feed on Krill copepods from temperate waters (Goodwin, 1986;Svensson, Blount, Forsgren, & Tamudsen, 2010). On the other hand, there are no conclusive studies on neotropical fish species about the origin, composition, and function of the carotenoids on the yolk.…”

Male mate choice for a female ornament in a monogamous cichlid fish, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

“…Pink belly colour displayed by female M. ramirezi may communicate spawning readiness to males. Studies have shown a correlation between brightness of belly colour and timing of egg development and spawning, making belly colour an effective signal of readiness to spawn (Amundsen & Forsgren, 2001;Baldauf et al, 2011;LaPlante, 2015;Svensson et al, 2009). For example, belly colour displayed by female…”

“…Male mate choice for female ornamentation is widely documented in sex-role-reversed species (Berglund et al, 1986;Berglund & Rosenqvist, 2001), and there is growing evidence among species with "conventional" sex roles, including several examples observed in fishes (Amundsen & Forsgren, 2001;Baldauf et al, 2010;Edward & Chapman, 2011;Massironi et al, 2005;McLennan, 1995;Rowland & Sevenster, 1985;Svensson et al, 2009). Male choosiness is expected when females noticeably differ in quality (Kraak & Bakker, 1998;Parker, 1983), males invest more in parental care than do females (Trivers, 1972), sperm reserves are limited (Nakatsuru & Kramer, 1982) and operational sex ratio (OSR) is female biased (Clutton-Brock, 2009).…”

“…"Seasonal" colours are limited to the breeding season, and "ephemeral" colours can be turned on and off almost instantaneously (Kodric-Brown, 1998). Female nuptial colours are often carotenoid based and displayed on or around a female's ventral area or belly, which appear because of neuronally controlled chromatophores on the skin and scales (Sugimoto, 2002), carotenoidrich gonads visible through the transparent abdominal skin (Baird, 1988;Svensson et al, 2009) or a combination of both sources of colour. Despite their temporary nature, female nuptial colouration can be subject to sexual selection when used in mate attraction or intrasexual conflict (Amundsen, 2000;Baldauf et al, 2011;Kodric-Brown, 1998;Tobias et al, 2012).…”

Differences in carotenoid accumulation among three feeder‐cricket species: implications for carotenoid delivery to captive insectivores

“…in fish: Ahmadi et al, ; Pike et al, , and birds: Blount et al, a; McGraw et al, ]. Furthermore, many vertebrates use carotenoids for integumentary coloration µamphibians: Frost and Robinson, ; Richardson et al, , reptiles: Steffen et al, , birds: Larcombe et al, , fish: Svensson et al, ], which may function in breeding behavior µe.g. in birds: Williamson et al, ], territoriality µe.g.…”