Kraak, S.B.N. (1988) Voortplantings-gedrag van Parablennius Sphinx (Teleostei, Blenniidae) : partnerkeuze door vrouwtjes. Master's Thesis / Essay, Biology.
|
Text
Biol_Ma_S.B.M.Kraak.CV.pdf - Published Version Download (2MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Males of the Mediterranean fish Farb1ennius sphinx guard narrow holes as nests in which several females deposit eggs. The sales clean and aerate the eggs. Females can lay eggs every two to three days in different nests. Natural selection is expected to favour females who choose males with the best parental qualities. This study adresses two questions: (1) are females actually choosing their mates, and (2) what are their selection criteria? F. sphinx accepted glass tubes in a concrete block, placed in their natural habitat in the sea. The numbers of eggs in the tubes were daily monitored. In addition I recorded the male and female behaviours during interactions. Tubes with and without eggs were exchanged experimentally. Evidence for female choice was provided by the observation of females approaching several males and entering different nests before spawning in one of these. Male size did neither appear to be correlated with the number of mates nor with the number of eggs males received. Male display did not seem to be necessary for 'persuading' females to spawn. Females appeared to choose males as often when they were displaying as when they were not. Females appeared to prefer males whose nests contained more eggs. The experiments proved that the presence of eggs was more important for female choice than traits displayed by the males themselves. These results are discussed in relation to paternal quality, i.e. the number of eggs a sale brings to hatch. A larger brood reduces the risk of an individual female's eggs being eaten by any predator - including the guarding male himself. Although females usually deposit several hundreds of eggs at a time, I occasionally observed females laying just a few eggs in empty nests. Do females 'take their chance' or 'test' males?
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Biology |
| Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
| Language: | Dutch |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Feb 2018 07:48 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2018 07:48 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/10129 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |