Synopsis
Studies on the ontogeny of behaviour in fish have seldom considered the adaptive significance of the order of appearance of the behaviours. Results of laboratory studies and field observations on the ontogeny of feeding, predator-avoidance, and agonistic behaviour in largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris, and pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, young indicate that the order of appearance of the various behavioural systems enhances the survival of the young. In the laboratory, all species spend significantly more time feeding during the first weeks of free-swimming than the later weeks. During a corresponding period in the field the young are either occupying an offshore area low in predators (rock bass, pumpkinseed) or are being guarded by a parent (largemouth bass); thus the risk of predation is low. When the young are in a predator-rich environment (inshore) both the predator-avoidance response and agonistic behaviour are well developed. Agonistic behaviour is the last to appear and may serve to disperse the young. Dispersal may relate to the feeding mode of the various species and may also reduce the probability of predation. It is apparent that the sequential onsets of the behavioural systems are in concert with ecological events and selective pressures confronting centarchid young.
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Brown, J.A. The adaptive significance of behavioural ontogeny in some. centrarchid fishes. Environ Biol Fish 13, 25–34 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004853
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004853