Colonial Nesting and the Importance of the Brood Size in Male Parasitic Reproduction of the Mediterranean Damselfish Chromis chromis (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

Picciulin, Marta; Verginella, Laura; Spoto, Maurizio; Ferrero, Enrico

doi:10.1023/b:ebfi.0000022851.49302.df

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Mapstone & Wood () reported on the social organization and behaviour of C. chromis , whilst the reproductive cycle has been described by Contini & Donato (), Dulčić & Kraljević () and Picciulin et al . (). In early June, male fish start to exhibit the first signs of display–courtship behaviour (Picciulin et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Why the damselfishChromis chromisis a key species in theMediterranean rocky littoral – a quantitative perspective

Pinnegar

2018

Journal of Fish Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The damselfish Chromis chromis is typically the most abundant fish species in the rocky littoral environment of the Mediterranean Sea, where it feeds in huge shoals on incoming zooplankton and rests near the seabed each night. Research has shown that large populations of C. chromis play a fundamental role by transferring carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus directly from the pelagic system to the littoral in the form of solid and liquid wastes and therefore that this species acts as a vital conduit for nutrients. In addition, C. chromis represents a major prey item for predatory fish and seabirds, it has been shown to exert significant predation pressure on coastal zooplankton populations, but it is also a major consumer of fish eggs and hence may have a strong influence on the dynamics of other fish species. In this review paper the contention is that C. chromis represents a key species in the Mediterranean Sea rocky littoral. This view is supported by quantitative evidence that has been amassed over a number of years, but is collated here for the first time. Chromis chromis is of only minor importance to commercial fisheries (it is usually discarded), but trends in population abundance of this species can be indicative of levels of fishing pressure on other commercial species. It has been demonstrated that where predator numbers are able to recover from intensive fishing (e.g.in marine protected areas; MPAs), this is often mirrored by lower densities of C. chromis. Several papers have championed C. chromis as a possible indicator species for human disturbance. As well as being directly and indirectly affected by fishing, the species is also sensitive to a number of other anthropogenic pressures, most notably poor water quality and noise pollution.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…(). In early June, male fish start to exhibit the first signs of display–courtship behaviour (Picciulin et al., ). They synchronously establish territories, prepare nests and court females through vigorous visual and acoustic display (Picciulin et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why the damselfishChromis chromisis a key species in theMediterranean rocky littoral – a quantitative perspective

Pinnegar

2018

Journal of Fish Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Opportunistic spawning by sneaker males is commonly observed in C. chromis ; sneakers do not establish nests, infiltrating a guarded nest, while the nesting male receives egg deposition by a female. On average, nesting males can receive three intrusions over a 10 min observation period (Picciulin et al ., ). The success rate of these attacks remains unclear, however, and molecular investigation is needed to unveil the real reproductive success of sneakers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The success rate of these attacks remains unclear, however, and molecular investigation is needed to unveil the real reproductive success of sneakers. Additionally, opportunistic spawning is known to be occasionally performed even by nesting males (Picciulin et al ., ). Consequently, C. chromis offers a model to study the relative reproductive success attained by nesting males and sneakers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

TheARTof mating: alternative reproductive tactics and mating success in a nest‐guarding fish

Mascolino

Benvenuto

Gubili

et al. 2016

Journal of Fish Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Behavioural observations in the field of male Mediterranean damselfish Chromis chromis were combined with molecular analyses, using bi-parentally and maternally inherited markers, to investigate reproductive success patterns of alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) in terms of number of eggs sired and number of females contributing to each nest. Cuckoldry was observed in every nest sampled, with at least two and up to seven sneaker males per nest. The nesting male, however, always significantly fertilized the greater number of eggs (on average 49%) in each clutch, whereas each sneaker fertilized around 7% of the clutch. The average number of females whose eggs were fertilized by nesting males was 6·76 (range 2-13), while each sneaker on average fertilized the eggs of 1·74 (range 1-8) females. Using this sibship reconstruction, some of the factors involved in the regulation of the dynamic equilibrium of reproductive success were investigated between the two ARTs shown by C. chromis males. Results show that the sneakers' reproductive success was positively linked to egg clutch size; the density of individuals in the nesting area negatively affected the size of egg clutches; the rate of defence behaviours performed by nesting males negatively influenced the number of females contributing to each nest.

show abstract

“…For example, C. chromis reproduce form June to September (Picciulin et al 2004), as evidenced here by the August count peak. S.…”

Section: Example 4: Seasonal Variations In Fish Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 64%

Coastal observatories for monitoring of fish behaviour and their responses to environmental changes

Aguzzi

Doya

Tecchio

et al. 2015

Rev Fish Biol Fisheries

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The inclusion of behavioural components in the analysis of a community is of key relevance in marine ecology. Diel and seasonal activity rhythms or more longlasting\ud changes in behavioural responses determine shifts in population, which in turn affect measurable abundances. Here, we review the value of cabled videoobservatories as a new and reliable technology for the remote, long-term, and highfrequency monitoring of fishes and their environment in coastal temperate areas. We provide details on the methodological requirements and constraints to appropriately measure fish behaviour at day-night and seasonal temporal scales from fixed videostations.\ud In doing so, we highlight the relevance of an accurate monitoring capacity of the surrounding environmental variability. We present examples of multiparametric video, oceanographic, and meteorological monitoring made with the western Mediterranean platform OBSEA (www.obsea.es; 20 m water depth). Results are reviewed in relation to future developments of cabled observatory science, which will greatly improve its monitoring capability due to: i. the application of Artificial Intelligence to aid in analysis of increasingly large, complex, and highly interrelated biological and environmental data, and ii. the design of future geographic\ud observational networks to allow for reliable spatial analysis of observed populationsPostprint (published version

show abstract

Colonial Nesting and the Importance of the Brood Size in Male Parasitic Reproduction of the Mediterranean Damselfish Chromis chromis (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

Cited by 22 publications

References 39 publications

Why the damselfishChromis chromisis a key species in theMediterranean rocky littoral – a quantitative perspective

Why the damselfishChromis chromisis a key species in theMediterranean rocky littoral – a quantitative perspective

TheARTof mating: alternative reproductive tactics and mating success in a nest‐guarding fish

Coastal observatories for monitoring of fish behaviour and their responses to environmental changes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About