Abstract
Julidochromis species, biparental substrate-brooding cichlids in Lake Tanganyika, exhibit a variety of mating systems, including monogamy, polygyny and polyandry. A wide range of body size in both sexes is suggested to be one of the main factors inducing this variation. We studied the effect of body size on the formation of mating system in J. transcriptus in experimental aquaria with an equal sex ratio (three males, three females). In mating trials of six similar-sized fish, monogamous pairs were predominantly formed. In trials with one large male and five similar-sized fish, the large males monopolized two or three females and polygynous harems were formed. In trials with one large female and five similar-sized fish, two of five large females mated polyandrously with two males. These results suggest that body size is likely to affect the formation of mating system in this fish. We also examined parental roles of the mated fish. In monogamous pairs, both parents shared their parental tasks. In contrast, polygynous males and polyandrous females showed less parental care. These results indicate that harem owners may reduce the amount of care regardless of sex. Although the benefit of polyandrous mating remains unclear, harem males fertilized more eggs than monogamous males, indicating that polygyny may be a better option for male mating tactics.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersson M (1994) Sexual selection in relation to mating system and parental roles. In: Andersson M (ed) Sexual selection. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J., pp 143–183
Awata S (2005) Social system, reproduction of helpers and sperm competition in the cooperatively breeding fishes (Julidochromis spp) in Lake Tanganyika. PhD thesis, Osaka City University, Osaka
Awata S, Kohda M (2004) Parental roles and the amount of care in a bi-parental substrate brooding cichlid: the effect of size differences within pairs. Behaviour 141:1135–1149
Awata S, Munehara H, Kohda M (2005) Social system and reproduction of helpers in a cooperatively breeding cichlid fish (Julidochromis ornatus) in Lake Tanganyika: field observations and parentage analyses. Behav Ecol Sociobiol (in press)
Barlow GW (1991) Mating systems among cichlid fishes. In: Keenleyside MHA (ed) Cichlid fishes: behaviour, ecology, and evolution. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 173–190
Barlow GW (2000) The cichlid fishes. Nature’s grand experiment in evolution. Perseus Publishing, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Barlow GW, Lee JSF (2005) Sex-reversed dominance and aggression in the cichlid fish Julidochromis marlieri. Ann Zool Fennici (in press)
Dugatkin AL, FitzGerald JG (1997) Sexual selection. In: Godin JGJ (ed) Behavioural ecology of teleost fishes. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 265–291
Gashagaza MM (1991) Diversity of breeding habits in Lamprologine cichlids in Lake Tanganyika. Physiol Ecol Jpn 28:29–65
Heg D, Bachar Z, Brouwer L, Taborsky M (2004) Predation risk is an ecological constraint for helper dispersal in a cooperatively breeding cichlid. Proc R Soc Lond B 271:2367–2374
Itzkowitz M (1984) Parental division of labor in a monogamous fish. Behaviour 89:251–260
Itzkowitz M (1985) Sexual differences in offspring defense in a monogamous cichlid fish. Z Tierpsychol 70:247–255
Itzkowitz M, Santangelo N, Richter M (2001) Parental division of labour and the shift from minimal to maximal role specializations: an examination using a biparental fish. Anim Behav 61:1237–1245
Karino K (1997) Influence of brood size and offspring size on parental investment in a biparental cichlid fish, Neolamprologus moorii. J Ethol 15:39–43
Keenleyside MHA (1983) Mate desertion in relation to adult sex ratio in the biparental cichlid fish Herotilapia multispinosa. Anim Behav 31:683–688
Keenleyside MHA (1985) Bigamy and mate choice in the in the biparental cichlid fish Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 17:285–290
Keenleyside MHA (1991) Parental care. In: Keenleyside MHA (ed) Cichlid fishes: behaviour, ecology and evolution. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 191–208
Keenleyside MHA, Bailey RC, Young VH (1990) Variation in the mating system and associated parental behaviour of captive and free-living Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (Pisces, Cichlidae). Behaviour 112:202–221
Kohda M (1994) Individual specialized foraging repertoires in the piscivorous cichlid fish Lepidiolamprologus profundicola. Anim Behav 48:1123–1131
Kondo T (1986) Feeding habits of Lamprologus savoryi (Teleostei: Cichlidae) with reference to its social behaviour. Physiol Ecol Jpn 23:1–15
Konings A (1998) Tanganyika cichlids in their natural habitat. Cichlid Press, El Paso
Kuwamura T (1997) The evolution of parental care and mating systems among Tanganyikan cichlids. In: Kawanabe H, Hori M, Nagoshi M (eds) Fish communities in Lake Tanganyika. Kyoto University Press, Kyoto, pp 57–86
Lavery RJ, Reebs SG (1994) Effect of mate removal on current and subsequent parental care in the convict cichlid (Pisces: Cichlidae). Ethology 97:265–277
Limberger D (1983) Pairs and harems in a cichlid fish, Lamprologus brichardi. Z Tierpsychol 62:115–144
Nagoshi M, Yanagisawa Y (1997) Parental care patterns and growth and survival of dependent offspring in cichlids. In: Kawanabe H, Hori M, Nagoshi M (eds) Fish communities in Lake Tanganyika. Kyoto University Press, Kyoto, pp 175–192
Oring LW (1986) Avian polyandry. In: Johnston RF (ed) Current ornithology. vol 3, Premium Press, New York, pp 309–351
Rice WR (1989) Analyzing tables of statistical tests. Evolution 43:223–225
Sunobe T (2000) Social structure, nest guarding and interspecific relationships of the cichlid fish (Julidochromis marlieri) in Lake Tanganyika. Afr Study Monogr 21:83–89
Taborsky M (1984) Broodcare helpers in the cichlid fish Lamprologus brichardi: their costs and benefits. Anim Behav 32:1236–1252
Taborsky M (1994) Sneakers, satellites, and helpers: parasitic and cooperative behavior in fish reproduction. Adv Study Behav 23:1–100
Townshend TJ, Wootton RJ (1985) Variation in the mating system of a biparental cichlid fish, Cichlasoma panamense. Behaviour 95:181–197
Yamagishi S, Kohda M (1996) Is the cichlid fish Julidochromis marlieri polyandrous? Ichthyol Res 43:469–471
Yanagisawa Y (1987) Social organization of a polygynous cichlid Lamprologus furcifer in Lake Tanganyika. Jpn J Ichthyol 34:82—90
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Tomohiro Takeyama, Rei Katoh, Junya Shibata, Kazutaka Ota and Yoshimi Makino for their support throughout the experiments and to Daisuke Gomagano, Masaoki Takagi and other members of the Laboratory of Animal Sociology, Osaka City University, for their fruitful discussion at all stages of the work. We also thank two anonymous referees who gave helpful comments on the manuscript. This study was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture to M.K. and was partly supported by the 21st Century COE program of the University of the Ryukyus to S.A.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10164-006-0210-x.
About this article
Cite this article
Awata, S., Takeuchi, H. & Kohda, M. The effect of body size on mating system and parental roles in a biparental cichlid fish (Julidochromis transcriptus): a preliminary laboratory experiment. J Ethol 24, 125–132 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0171-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0171-5