Size-mediated dominance and aggressive behavior of male Japanese fluvial sculpin Cottus pollux (Pisces: Cottidae) reduce nest-site abundance and mating success of conspecific rivals |
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Authors: | Takaharu Natsumeda Seiichi Mori Masahide Yuma |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Animal-Environment System Science, Faculty of Risk and Crisis Management, Chiba Institute of Science, 3 Shiomi-cho, Choshi Chiba, 288-0025, Japan;(2) Biological Laboratory, Gifu-keizai University, Ogaki Gifu, 503-8550, Japan;(3) Department of Environmental Solution Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Ryukoku University, 1-5 Yokotani, Seta-Oe, Otsu Shiga, 520-2194, Japan |
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Abstract: | Despite growing evidence for plasticity in the mating patterns of nest-holding animals in relation to the changes in nest
abundance, the effects of aggressive interaction by dominant males on nest availability for conspecific rivals remains unclear.
To quantify the effects of male–male competition on nest-site choice and mating success of the male Japanese fluvial sculpin
Cottus pollux, we conducted experiments on 5 males from different 5 size classes under both sufficient and shortage nest-abundance conditions.
Nest-choice experiments showed that both male size class and nest-abundance condition had significant effects on the nesting
rates of males. Following the nest-choice experiments, 10 gravid females were added in the experimental tanks. Mating experiments
revealed that male size, nesting rate before addition of females, and the number of courtship attempts on females were valid
variables of male mating success, regardless of nest-abundance conditions. After achieving initial mating success, the largest
nesting male exhibited more frequent aggressive interaction with other conspecific males than he did before obtaining eggs
in his nest. Our results suggest that size-mediated dominance and aggressive behavior of males may disrupt nest acquisition
of other conspecific males, and may consequently result in extreme variation in mating success among males even under sufficient
nest-abundance conditions. |
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Keywords: | |
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