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A preliminary report on the spawning behaviour and nature of sexual selection in the barbel, Barbus barbus (L.)
Author(s) -
Hancock R. S.,
Jones J. W.,
Shaw R.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1976.tb04658.x
Subject(s) - barbel , biology , biological dispersal , barbus , zoology , fishery , sexual selection , ecology , cyprinidae , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , population , sociology
In the spring of 1974 the migration and spawning behaviour of barbel, Barbus barbus (L.) were observed. The migration and behaviour of males prior to the spawning attempts may be strategies designed to increase the quota of receptive females experienced by each male. Spawning attempts were divided into two categories: successful and failed. Successful attempts comprised six sequential sub‐events: approach period, pre‐spawning phase, spawning, post‐spawning phase, dispersal period and inter‐spawning period. The spawning and post‐spawning phases did not occur in a failed attempt. The success or failure of attempts was dependent upon the number of males present. The advantage gained by females abandoning attempts when the male densities were high is discussed. In both the pre‐spawning phase of failed attempts and the post‐spawning phase of successful attempts, males attempted to drive away other male competitors by the use of male ‘chase away’ interactions.