LOCAL POPULATION SIZE AS A DETERMINANT OF MATING SYSTEM AND SEXUAL COMPOSITION IN TWO TROPICAL MARINE FISHES (
            <i>THALASSOMA</i>
            SPP.)

Warner, Robert R.; Hoffman, Steven

doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1980.tb04840.x

Cited by 149 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Density-dependent alternative mating systems are well known in labroid fishes, but many alternatives only appear at elevated population densities [27] likely resembling conditions in which the systems evolved. Since historical densities have become exceedingly rare for large-bodied species, some alternatives may seldom be observed (a single observation of headbutting by Bolbometopon was reported in a recreational dive blog from the Red Sea, an area where Bolbometopon is reported to be locally abundant, [11], [28]), and odd morphologies will remain difficult to interpret.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extraordinary Aggressive Behavior from the Giant Coral Reef Fish, Bolbometopon muricatum, in a Remote Marine Reserve

et al. 2012

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Human impacts to terrestrial and marine communities are widespread and typically begin with the local extirpation of large-bodied animals. In the marine environment, few pristine areas relatively free of human impact remain to provide baselines of ecosystem function and goals for restoration efforts. Recent comparisons of remote and/or protected coral reefs versus impacted sites suggest remote systems are dominated by apex predators, yet in these systems the ecological role of non-predatory, large-bodied, highly vulnerable species such as the giant bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) has received less attention. Overfishing of Bolbometopon has lead to precipitous declines in population density and avoidance of humans throughout its range, contributing to its status as a candidate species under the U. S. Endangered Species Act and limiting opportunities to study unexploited populations. Here we show that extraordinary ecological processes, such as violent headbutting contests by the world’s largest parrotfish, can be revealed by studying unexploited ecosystems, such as the coral reefs of Wake Atoll where we studied an abundant population of Bolbometopon. Bolbometopon is among the largest of coral reef fishes and is a well known, charismatic species, yet to our knowledge, no scientific documentation of ritualized headbutting exists for marine fishes. Our observations of aggressive headbutting by Bolbometopon underscore that remote locations and marine reserves, by inhibiting negative responses to human observers and by allowing the persistence of historical conditions, can provide valuable opportunities to study ecosystems in their natural state, thereby facilitating the discovery, conservation, and interpretation of a range of sometimes remarkable behavioral and ecological processes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extraordinary Aggressive Behavior from the Giant Coral Reef Fish, Bolbometopon muricatum, in a Remote Marine Reserve

et al. 2012

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“…However, other data do not strongly support the application of this hypothesis to A. troschelii. Third, it seems unlikely that T. lucasanum populations in the Pearl Islands could be oversaturated with Abudefduf eggs, given (1) the density and size of those populations (> 12 000 individuals/ha and 5000 individuals/reef [Warner andHoffman 1980, Foster 1987a, b and our observations]), (2) the rate at which a school can entirely consume the contents of an A. troschelii nest (as few as 100 fish can do so in as little as 4 min; Foster 1987b) and (3) that a colony of 50-175 nests contains eggs for between 8 and 15 d during each spawning bout (Foster 1 987a, b and our observations). Second, like Foster (1987a, b), we often saw the pri-mary egg-predator (Thalassoma lucasanum) attack A. troschelii nests at the Pearl Islands site, but did not see such predation at PP or PM, where spawning by A. troschelii also was strongly synchronized.…”

Section: Ecological Monographsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lunar Reproductive Cycles of Benthic‐Brooding Reef Fishes: Reflections of Larval Biology or Adult Biology?

Robertson

Petersen

Brawn

1990

Ecological Monographs

170

125

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JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. Ecological Society of America is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Ecological Monographs.Abstract. Lunar reproductive cycles are common among marine animals. Most hypotheses concerning the adaptive nature of such cycles consider the effects of the tidal regime or moonlight on the dispersal of planktonic eggs or hatchlings away from adult habitats. We determined the reproductive periodicity of 17 paternal-brooding reef fishes at three neotropical sites with different tidal regimes. We used these and published data to assess the explanatory potential of hatchling-dispersal hypotheses, and of other larvalbiology and adult-biology hypotheses.Among the 17 species (15 damselfishes and two blennies), two of which we studied at two sites, we found 14 with lunar and semilunar spawning cycles, one sporadically synchronized spawner, two acyclically variable spawners, and one continuous spawner. In 16 species individual nests experienced frequent alternation of short brood-care and rest periods (brood cycling).Simple hatcThling-biology hypotheses are unable to account readily for the range of variation in the types, precision, and lunar timing of spawning cycles among species within and between depth zones at the same site, or for intra-and interspecific variation in spawning patterns in relation to seasonal and geographic differences in tidal regimes.The hypothesis that lunar spawning cycles have evolved to maximize the availability of relatively uniform-age larvae that settle during preferred lunar settlement times is supported by some but not all data.Adult-biology hypotheses can account for the higher frequency of lunar spawning cycles among brooders than nonbrooders, and can accommodate various patterns of reproductive cyclicism and synchronization in brooders. Synchronized activity may be favored in some brooders because colonial spawning provides enhanced defense against egg predators. Further, the cost of brood care may result in reduced egg survivorship, and both brood cycling and the temporal concentration of spawning may reduce egg losses by allowing males to recuperate and increasing benefits to brood-care for them.Adult-biology constraints may produce variability in spawning patterns. Differences in social systems may determine the ability to form nesting colonies, and to strongly synchronize spawning independently of lunar cues. Changes in short-term food availability may influence the regularity of spawning.Adult-biology hypotheses represent generally underemphasized alternatives that have at least as much explanatory potential as larval-biology hypotheses. If hatchling biology is of general importance to paternal brooders, there must be consi...

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“…competitor) environment that individuals within a group experience [21], [36]. In turn, the composition of the assemblage within which an individual interacts can affect the potential for resource and female defence, and thus the ways in which individuals and sexes can optimise their life history within phylogenetically determined limits [20], [37], [38]–[43]. The present study describes the occurrence of two very different social organisations in the same species and their consequences for growth, sex-change, and SSD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differing Mechanisms Underlie Sexual Size-Dimorphism in Two Populations of a Sex-Changing Fish

et al. 2010

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Variability in the density of groups within a patchy environment lead to differences in interaction rates, growth dynamics and social organization. In protogynous hermaphrodites there are hypothesised trade-offs among sex-specific growth, reproductive output and mortality. When differences in density lead to changes to social organization the link between growth and the timing of sex-change is predicted to change. The present study explores this prediction by comparing the social organisation and sex-specific growth of two populations of a protogynous tropical wrasse, Halichoeres miniatus, which differ in density. At a low density population a strict harem structure was found, where males maintained a tight monopoly of access and spawning rights to females. In contrast, at a high density population a loosely organised system prevailed, where females could move throughout multiple male territories. Otolith microstructure revealed the species to be annual and deposit an otolith check associated with sex-change. Growth trajectories suggested that individuals that later became males in both populations underwent a growth acceleration at sex-change. Moreover, in the high density population, individuals that later became males were those individuals that had the largest otolith size at hatching and consistently deposited larger increments throughout early larval, juvenile and female life. This study demonstrates that previous growth history and growth rate changes associated with sex change can be responsible for the sexual dimorphism typically found in sex-changing species, and that the relative importance of these may be socially constrained.

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LOCAL POPULATION SIZE AS A DETERMINANT OF MATING SYSTEM AND SEXUAL COMPOSITION IN TWO TROPICAL MARINE FISHES ( THALASSOMA SPP.)

Cited by 149 publications

References 16 publications

Extraordinary Aggressive Behavior from the Giant Coral Reef Fish, Bolbometopon muricatum, in a Remote Marine Reserve

Extraordinary Aggressive Behavior from the Giant Coral Reef Fish, Bolbometopon muricatum, in a Remote Marine Reserve

Lunar Reproductive Cycles of Benthic‐Brooding Reef Fishes: Reflections of Larval Biology or Adult Biology?

Differing Mechanisms Underlie Sexual Size-Dimorphism in Two Populations of a Sex-Changing Fish

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