Abstract
This study examines nest building and mating in relation to size in male corkwing wrasse, Symphodus melops, in the absence of male–male competition. We kept males of varying size together with mature females in tanks containing adequate materials and sites for nest construction. Our results indicate that the size of territorial males does not influence the ability to construct a nest. However, larger males initiated nest building earlier than smaller males and nest size correlated positively with male size. Furthermore, male size did not affect whether or not a nesting male succeeded in mating, indicating that male size was not essential for female acceptance (i.e. whether or not a female is willing to mate) of a male in the current situation.
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Uglem, I., Rosenqvist, G. Nest Building and Mating in Relation to Male Size in Corkwing Wrasse, Symphodus Melops . Environmental Biology of Fishes 63, 17–25 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013886112191
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013886112191