Semilunar spawning cycle of the humbug damselfish Dascyllus aruanus |
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Authors: | N Mizushima Y Nakashima T Kuwamura |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan Tel. +81-75-753-4099; Fax +81-75-753-4113 e-mail: nozomi@ci.zool.kyoto-u.ac.jp, JP;(2) Faculty of Liberal Arts, Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan, JP |
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Abstract: | A very distinct semilunar spawning cycle was found in a population of the damselfish Dascyllus aruanus on the coral reefs of Sesoko Island, Okinawa. Spawning occurred from June to September, only in the early morning, during
a period of 2–4 days immediately before or around the time of the new and full moon. Males cared for the eggs deposited on
the substrate for 2.5 days until hatching. Hatching occurred just after sunset, i.e., at the high tide of spring tide; the
strong ebb current then would rapidly disperse the newly hatched larvae offshore. Females tended to synchronize spawning in
a male's nest, also because multiple clutches in a nest would be more likely to survive until hatching. Thus, the distinct
semilunar spawning cycle may favor females in reducing mortality of both eggs and larvae.
Received: July 9, 1999 / Accepted: January 29, 2000 |
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Keywords: | Spawning cycle Semilunar Damselfish Dascyllus aruanus Paternal care Synchronized spawning Subtropical Japan |
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