Affiliation: | (1) A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii prospekt 33, 119071 Moscow, Russia;(2) P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskii prospekt 36, 117997 Moscow, Russia;(3) Institute for Limnology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Mondseestrasse 9, A-5310 Mondsee, Austria |
Abstract: | Synopsis We examined behavioural interactions and feeding within triads of young-of-the-year (YOY) Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis, in aquaria with and without a shelter. For the first time we showed that competition for shelters, but not for food, provokes aggressiveness and triggers establishment of social hierarchy among young perch. No aggressiveness occurred during feeding bouts, when food was a limited resource. We expect the observed interactions to occur in natural heterogeneous habitats providing limited number of refuges and high local density of fish. They may ultimately lead to previously anticipated interference competition among juvenile perch. |