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Patterns of shelter usage and social aggregation by the vocal Lusitanian toadfish

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Abstract

In some marine fishes, males migrate from deeper to littoral water to breed, where they defend nests and provide parental care. In this study, we describe seasonal patterns of shelter occupation in estuarine shallow waters and assess social aggregation in the Lusitanian toadfish (Batrachoididae), a vocal species with male parental care. Occupation of intertidal shelters was restricted to the breeding season but adult fish remained in subtidal regions during the non-reproductive season and they produced sounds throughout the year. Intertidal shelters were aggregated with up to five shelters found per 2-m segment of an 80-m transect. This aggregation probably resulted from social attraction since many segments were found unoccupied. Moreover, shelters contained on average two fish (maximum of nine). Based on size, shelters with multiple fish seemed to contain females, or possibly sneakers, but also more than one type I male inside, indicating a high social tolerance for conspecifics.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Air Force Base No. 6 of Montijo (Portugal) for allowing this study in their military establishment and Transtejo for access to the pier at Cais do Seixalinho. This research was funded by the Science and Technology Foundation, Portugal (project PDCT/MAR/58071/2004, plurianual program UI&D 331/94, grants SFRH/BPD/14570/2003 and SFRH/BPD/41489/2007). We are also thankful to Raquel Vasconcelos, Silvia Pedroso and Joana Jordão for assistance in part of the field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidade de Investigação em Eco-Etologia, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal

    Maria Clara Pessoa Amorim, José Miguel Simões & Vitor C. Almada

  2. Departamento de Biologia Animal e Centro de Biologia Ambiental, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    Paulo Jorge Fonseca

Authors
  1. Maria Clara Pessoa Amorim
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  2. José Miguel Simões
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  3. Paulo Jorge Fonseca
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  4. Vitor C. Almada
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Correspondence to Maria Clara Pessoa Amorim.

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Communicated by M. A. Peck.

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Amorim, M.C.P., Simões, J.M., Fonseca, P.J. et al. Patterns of shelter usage and social aggregation by the vocal Lusitanian toadfish. Mar Biol 157, 495–503 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1335-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1335-6

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