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Relationships between circulating androgens, aggressive behaviour and breeding tubercles in males of the common bream Abramis brama L. in an aquarium environment

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Abstract

In this study, relationships between circulating androgens, aggressive behaviour and breeding tubercles in males of common bream Abramis brama were examined in an aquarium environment. The breeding tubercles of fish were counted, the number of attacks was quantified by male status and circulating rates of testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone from blood plasma were analysed using radioimmunoassay procedures. The results revealed that no significant differences were found between circulating testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone in territorial and nonterritorial males. Furthermore, no significant correlations were found between circulating androgens, androgens and aggression, androgens and tubercles and breeding tubercles and aggression in common bream by male status. However, territorial fish displayed a significantly higher level of aggressive behaviour and breeding tubercles than nonterritorial fish. In natural environments, the occurrence of breeding tubercles during the spawning season could contribute to identifying the behavioural status of common bream males.

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Acknowledgements

We thank A. Massin for drawing the picture and two anonymous referees for valuable comments on this manuscript. The correction of English has been funded by the project of FNRS (Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique) N°1482.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology of Behaviour Unit, Laboratory of Fish Ethology, University of Liège, 22 Quai Van Beneden, 4020, Liège, Belgium

    P. Poncin & C. Termol

  2. Biology of Behaviour Unit, Laboratory of Fish Demography and Hydroecology, University of Liège, 10 Chemin de la Justice, 4500, Tihange, Belgium

    B. Nzau Matondo & J. C. Philippart

  3. Unit of Research in Organism Biology, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000, Namur, Belgium

    P. Kestemont

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  1. P. Poncin
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  2. B. Nzau Matondo
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  5. J. C. Philippart
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Correspondence to P. Poncin.

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Poncin, P., Matondo, B.N., Termol, C. et al. Relationships between circulating androgens, aggressive behaviour and breeding tubercles in males of the common bream Abramis brama L. in an aquarium environment. Fish Physiol Biochem 37, 533–542 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-010-9455-y

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