Habitat Patch Size,Facultative Monogamy and Sex Change in a Coral-dwelling Fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caracanthus unipinna</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Marian?YL?WongEmail author Philip?L?Munday Geoffrey?P?Jones |
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Institution: | (1) School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, 4811 Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
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Abstract: | Synopsis We investigated the inter-relationships between coral colony size, social group size, mating system, and patterns of sex allocation
in the pygmy coral croucher, Caracanthus unipinna (Caracanthidae), an obligate coral-dwelling fish. Histological examination of the gonads from all individuals in social groups
revealed that the predominant mating system was harem polygyny. However, both group size and mating system co-varied with
coral colony size, with pair forming and monogamy occurring on small corals and group forming and harem polygyny on large
corals. This species therefore displays mating system plasticity in response to varying habitat patch size. Within-group sexual
size dimorphism and individual gonad structure indicate that C. unipinna is also likely to be a protogynous hermaphrodite. These social and reproductive features of C. unipinna contrast with some other coral-dwelling fishes, which display a lack of social and mating system plasticity in response to
habitat patch size, and either bi-directional or protandrous sex change. Possible reasons for this dichotomy include differences
in spawning mode, parental care and levels of intrasexual aggression. |
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Keywords: | caracanthus social structure mating system protogyny habitat specialisation |
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