Synopsis
The social and reproductive behavior of a group of four male and seven female walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, were observed in a large tank. Pollock spent most of their time swimming in a loose aggregation near the surface. Males descended from the aggregation more often than females to follow and make physical contact with other males as well as with females. The difference between males and females in the frequency of diving in our tank is consistent with the reported pattern of depth segregation of the sexes in natural pollock spawning aggregations. The frequency of social interactions increased when pollock became reproductively active and was higher at night and during twilight when most of the spawning occurred. Male interactions with females most frequently involved physical contact, while male interactions with other males were more often limited to following. There was no indication that male-male interactions result in the formation of stable social dominance relationships that determine priority of access to mates, as has been suggested previously for walleye pollock. Rather, following and contact interactions appear to promote male identification of potential mates and encounters with ripe females. The possible functional significance of male social interactions is discussed in relation to reports on natural walleye pollock spawning aggregations.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brawn, V.M. 1961a. Aggressive behaviour in the cod (Gadus callarias L.). Behaviour 18: 107–147.
Brawn, V.M. 1961b. Reproductive behaviour of the cod (Gadus callarias L.). Behaviour 18: 177–198.
Dewsbury, D.A. 1982. Dominance, rank, copulatory behavior and differential reproduction. Q. Rev. Biol. 57: 135–159.
Fienburg, S.E. 1980. The analysis of cross classified categorical data. MIT Press, Cambridge. 198 pp.
Hawkins, A.D., K.J. Chapman & D.J. Symonds. 1967. Spawning of haddock in captivity. Nature 215: 923–925.
Hinkley, S. 1987. The reproductive biology of walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, in the Bering Sea, with reference to spawning stock structure. U.S. Fish. Bull. 85: 481–498.
Hoffman, S.G. 1985. Effects of size and sex on the social organization of reef-associated hogfishes,Bodianus spp. Env. Biol. Fish. 14: 185–197.
Maeda, T. 1986. Life cycle and behavior of adult pollockTheragra chalcogramma (Pallas) in waters adjacent to Funka Bay, Hokkaido Island. Int. North Pac. Fish. Comm. Bull. 45: 39–65.
Sakurai, Y. 1982. Reproductive ecology of walleye pollockTheragra chalcogramma (Pallas). Ph.D. Thesis, Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, Hakodate. 177 p. (translated from Japanese).
Sakurai, Y. 1983. Reproductive behaviour of walleye pollock in captivity. Aquabiology 24: 2–7. (In Japanese).
Shaw, W. & G.A. McFarlane. 1986. Biology, distribution and abundance of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) off the west coast of Canada. Int. North Pac. Fish. Comm. Bull. 45: 262–283.
Svetovidov, A.N. 1962. Gadiformes. Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem. 304 pp.
Taylor, F.H.C. & R. Kieser. 1980. Hydroacoustic and fishing surveys for walleye pollock in Dixon Entrance and nearby areas, July 5–23, 1978. Can. MS Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1572. 73 pp.
Thompson, J.M. 1981. Preliminary report on the population, biology and fishery of walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) off the Pacific coast of Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1031. 157 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baird, T.A., Olla, B.L. Social and reproductive behavior of a captive group of walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma . Environ Biol Fish 30, 295–301 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02028845
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02028845