Effects of wave action on nesting activity in the littoral five-spotted wrasse, <i>Symphodus roissali</i>, (Labridae), in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

SUMMARY: The nesting activity of the littoral five-spotted wrasse, Symphodus roissali, was investigated near Blanes (northwestern Mediterranean Sea). Males construct and defend several nests over the entire reproductive period while females spawn asynchronously in these nests. Nesting activity continued from around the end of March to the end of June in the case of the study population. Nesting intensity, nesting success and nest destruction varied between years and sites. Differences between the numbers of nests that survive the nesting cycle and those that are destroyed can be related to environmental conditions, primarily wave height. Sufficiently protracted periods (> 1 week) of favourable sea conditions allow nests to survive and complete their cycle.Key words: labrid fishes, wave action, nesting success, nest destruction, Mediterranean Sea. RESUMEN: EL EFECTO DEL OLEAJE SOBRE LA ACTIVIDAD NIDIFICADORA DEL LÁBRIDO DE LITORAL PLANCHITA SYMPHODUS ROIS-SALI (LABRIDAE), EN EL MEDITERRÁNEO NOROCCIDENTAL. -La actividad nidificadora del lábrido de litoral Planchita, Symphodus roissali, fue investigada cerca de Blanes, en el Mediterráneo Noroccidental. Los machos construyen y defienden varios nidos a lo largo del período reproductor en los cuales las hembras ponen sus huevos. La actividad nidificadora se extiende desde cerca de finales de Marzo hasta finales de Junio para la población objeto de estudio. La intensidad nidificadora, el éxito nidificador y la destrucción de nidos varió entre años y entre estaciones de muestreo. Las diferencias en el número de nidos que sobreviven con los que son destruidos pueden ser relacionadas con las condiciones ambientales, principalmente con la altura de ola. Períodos de tiempo suficientemente largos (>1 semana) con condiciones de mar favorables permiten que los nidos sobrevivan y completen sus ciclos.Palabras clave: lábridos, efecto del oleaje, éxito nidificador, destrucción de nidos,

Nest site characteristics and nesting success of the five‐spotted wrasse Symphodus roissali in the north‐western Mediterranean Sea

“…Another possible explanation is that the degree of shelter may not be a determining factor for the species over its entire distribution area. The effect of waves on shallow areas is always significant, however, regardless of coastal orientation and has been previously demonstrated as adverse for nesting activities (Raventós, 2004). On the basis of these results, nesting success mostly depends on low exposure to wave action.…”

Effect of pelagic larval growth and size-at-hatching on post-settlement survivorship in two temperate labrid fish of the genus Symphodus

“…HarmelinVivien & Francour 1992, Macpherson et al 2002. Spawning takes place in nests built and defended by the dominant males (Van den Berghe 1990, Raventos 2004. In S. roissali mating activity begins at the end of March and ends in mid-June, while in S. ocellatus it runs from late May to early July.…”

The influence of oceanographic fronts and early-life-history traits on connectivity among littoral fish species

“…The mating and settlement behavior of the species might explain this apparently anomalous result. Like other species of the genus Symphodus, spawning takes place in nests built with branching algae that are often destroyed and transported by waves (47). Because such algal clumps are also suitable habitat for settlers (48), passive transportation through drifting algae could help homogenize gene pools across the BF.…”