Synopsis
Two forces, limited availability of preferred habitat and social attraction between conspecifics were hypothesized to explain nest aggregation in male longear sunfish. In the laboratory, males cluster their nests within a small segment of a much larger uniform area of nesting habitat. In the field, large areas of unused habitat suitable for nesting were found, suggesting that nesting aggregations are not formed as a result of limited preferred habitat. Males appear to be socially attracted during breeding, and social nesting presumably is a successful reproductive strategy for at least a portion of the population.
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Bietz, B.F. Habitat availability, social attraction and nest distribution patterns in longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis peltastes). Environ Biol Fish 6, 193–200 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002782
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002782