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Lunar synchronization of spawning in cichlid fishes of the tribe Lamprologini in Lake Tanganyika
Author(s) -
Nakai K.,
Yanagisawa Y.,
Sato T.,
Niimura Y.,
Gashagaza M. M.
Publication year - 1990
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.1095-8649.1990.tb05891.x
Subject(s) - cichlid , biology , fishery , tribe , ecology , synchronization (alternating current) , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , sociology , anthropology , topology (electrical circuits) , mathematics , combinatorics
Lunar synchronization of spawning was investigated for eight substrate brooding cichlid fishes belonging to the tribe Lamprologini. Their spawning activities all peaked during the second quarter of the lunar cycle. Comparison between their breeding styles and the degrees of spawning synchronization suggested that the nocturnal guarding‐efficiency of eggs, especially exposed ones, is improved by the maximal amount of moonlight during full moon and, in species whose young leave the breeding sites about 2 weeks after spawning, the survival of dispersing young is enhanced by the darkness of moonless nights.