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Behaviour of the female beaugregory damselfish ( Stegastes leucostictus )
Author(s) -
Horne E. A.,
Itzkowitz M.
Publication year - 1995
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.1095-8649.1995.tb05986.x
Subject(s) - damselfish , biology , pomacentridae , wrasse , bay , zoology , predator , ecology , fishery , predation , coral reef fish , coral reef , fish <actinopterygii> , geography , archaeology
Much less is known about the behaviour of female beaugregory damselfish than about males of the species. This study was initiated to determine behavioural patterns and interactions of female beaugregories on the back reef of Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, North shore of Jamaica. Females fed, patrolled, and chased intruders in a significantly larger area and ate significantly more per 15‐min observation period than did males. Males spent significantly more time patrolling their territories and chased significantly more total intruders than did females. However, this difference in total chases comes from the fact that males chased the bluehead wrasse, an egg predator, significantly more often than did females while all other species of intruder were chased the same by both sexes. The distance that females travelled from their homesite to court was significantly positively correlated to female body length. This increased distance travelled may relate to mate assessment. Female beaugregory damselfish may be able to be more selective in their choice of mate with increased size and distance travelled.