Interspecific territoriality in males of the tube blenny <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoclinus bryope</Emphasis> (Actinopterygii: Chaenopsidae) |
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Authors: | Atsunobu Murase Tomoki Sunobe |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Fish Behavioural Ecology, Tateyama Station, Field Science Center, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 670 Banda, Tateyama Chiba, 294-0308, Japan |
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Abstract: | Territoriality was investigated in the tube blenny Neoclinus bryope (Actinopterygii: Chaenopsidae) at rocky intertidal areas of Banda Beach, Tateyama Bay, central Japan. Males used small holes
as spawning nests, usually staying at the nest and maintaining the area while showing exclusive behaviors. Their home ranges
were limited to areas within 30 cm distance from the nest for over 2 months. Four heterospecific fishes were threatened when
they approached to within 6–14 cm of the nest holes, and two species of carnivorous snails were removed at points 0–30 cm
from the nest entrance. There were no significant differences between the distances from the nest entrances to the points
defended against fish and those used for foraging. As the four heterospecific species have similar feeding habits to those
of N. bryope, the area defended against fishes may function as a foraging territory. At 24 h following the removal of nest owners, carnivorous
snails had gathered to actively prey on eggs, indicating that the area defended against snails may function as a territory
for protection against egg predators. Although the positions of females where males started courtship displays were significantly
farther than the foraging points and the positions of threatened fishes, males displayed no territoriality against conspecific
males. The fact that males did not leave the nest hole during the courtship suggests that it may be costly to maintain a courtship
territory. These results show that males of tube blenny maintain territories for egg guarding and for protecting food resources
around their nest holes in the spawning season. |
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