Spawning dynamics of orange roughy,Hoplostethus atlanticus,in mid-slope waters of New Zealand |
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Authors: | Neville W Pankhurst |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, V6T 2A9 Vancouver, B.C., Canada;(2) Present address: Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 97365 Newport, OR, U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Synopsis The social and reproductive biology of the sand tilefish,Malacanthus plumieri (Malacanthidae), was studied at Glover's Reef, Belize, where this species occurs in colonies over sand-rubble flats. Individuals
each occupy a home burrow refuge and a surrounding home range. Home range overlap among adjacent fish of the same sex is low,
and individuals defend exclusive use of much of their home range against all conspecifics except mates (i.e., territoriality).
Areas defended by males overlap the territories of up to 6 females; and male territory area is positively related to the number
of female residents. Males maintain dominance over females within their territories by aggression, including intervention
into some female disputes. Females spawn pelagically-dispersed eggs as frequently as every day. Each female spawns near her
burrow, almost exclusively with the male whose defended area encompasses her territory (harem polygyny). Tilefish colonies
therefore consist of a mosaic of female territories over which adjacent male territories are superimposed. Histological evidence
and observation of behavioral sex change in one female revealed thatM. plumieri is capable of protogynous sex reversal. Females did not change sex in response to removal of one male. Occurrence of small
transitional fish indicates that the onset of sex change is controlled by factors other than size-related social hierarchies
within harems or colonies. |
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Keywords: | Aggression Belize Burrowing Harems Malacanthidae Polygyny Reproduction Sex change Spawning |
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