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Territorial defence by the Brazilian damsel Stegastes fuscus (Teleostei: Pomacentridae)
Author(s) -
Osório R.,
Rosa I. L.,
Cabral H.
Publication year - 2006
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.1095-8649.2006.01095.x
Subject(s) - damselfish , pomacentridae , biology , teleostei , range (aeronautics) , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , zoology , ecology , coral reef fish , materials science , composite material
Territorial defence by Brazilian damselfish Stegastes fuscus was studied in north‐east Brazil through underwater observations. The fish mostly fed on Gellidium sp. and strongly defended a territory with a mean size of 2 m 2 (range 1·27–3·07 m 2 ); its mean ± s.d. feeding rate was 8·73 ± 2·44 bites min −1 . Stegastes fuscus responded similarly to all intruding fish species, with aggressive behaviour becoming more pronounced only with an increase in the number of fishes in the sampled area. Analysis of attacks elicited by different fish species placed within S. fuscus ’ territory, however, showed that it launched more attacks on conspecifics than on other fishes.