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Period-dependent sex-biased movement in a polygamous stream fish (Cottus perifretum Freyhof, Kottelat & Nolte, 2005—Actinopterygii, Cottidae) with male parental care

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Abstract

Inter-sexual differences in reproductive behaviours such as mate choice or parental care may cause sex-bias in movement distances. While this relationship has been extensively studied in birds and mammals, little is known regarding fishes. Fifty-four bullhead (Cottus perifretum), polygamous stream fish with male nest holding, were tracked by means of a portable antenna in a 2,500 m stream reach. Movement was measured at two time scales: monthly movement distance and long-term movement range. Bullhead moved furthest in February and May. In these months, movement distances diversified between the sexes. Females moved significantly furthest in February. This may be related to female mate-choice at the beginning of the reproductive period. In May, at the end of the reproductive period, males moved significantly longer distances. It is speculated that males shift to resource-richer habitats after the starvation during parental care. In general, smaller individuals moved longer distances per month. Long-term movement range did not differ between the sexes but varied considerably between individuals ranging from 1 to 1,111 m. It is concluded that movement studies should encompass an annual time scale as well as a more precise monthly time scale to present an accurate description of sex-biased movement in (annual spawning) fish.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Geert Eens, Peter Scheys, Sofie Vanwetswinkel, Brecht Engelen and Lennart Damen for their technical assistance; and Guy Knaepkens, Gregory E. Maes and Filip A.M. Volckaert for their support. Many thanks also go to the University of Antwerp and the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek—Vlaanderen for funding (FWO-project to Marcel Eens). The handling editor, David J. Hoeinghaus and two anonymous referees provided valuable comments. This experimental study was performed in agreement with the Belgian and Flemish laws and was approved by the ethical committee of the University of Antwerp (ID number 2007/42).

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  1. Department of Biology-Ethology, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk (Antwerp), Belgium

    Alexander Kobler, Yves Humblet, Katia Geudens & Marcel Eens

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  1. Alexander Kobler
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  2. Yves Humblet
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  3. Katia Geudens
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  4. Marcel Eens
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Correspondence to Alexander Kobler.

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Handling editor: David J. Hoeinghaus

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Kobler, A., Humblet, Y., Geudens, K. et al. Period-dependent sex-biased movement in a polygamous stream fish (Cottus perifretum Freyhof, Kottelat & Nolte, 2005—Actinopterygii, Cottidae) with male parental care. Hydrobiologia 693, 195–204 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1108-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1108-y

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