Abstract
It has been hypothesized that site-attached coral reef fishes breed during periods when their offspring will be rapidly flushed from the reef environment, but within the season when these propagules are least likely to be forever lost from the local populations. Daily, monthly and annual rhythms were observed in the reproduction between November 1978 and February 1980 of two tropical damselfishes, Pomacentrus flavicauda and P. wardi, from the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. These data support the first part of the hypothesis, but not the explanation for seasonality. When breeding, females of both species spawned demersal eggs into the care of males during a brief period at first light. After several days, larvae hatched from these eggs during another brief period after sunset. An experiment confirmed that the change from light to dark triggered the hatchings and that the emerging larvae were photopositive. Eggs of P. flavicauda usually hatched on the evening of their fourth day in the nest; eggs of P. wardi hatched on their fifth day. A small proportion of eggs required longer incubation. Hatching success was ∼ 90%. When breeding, both species spawned in bi-weekly cycles synchronised with the phases of the moon. The largest clutches, as well as the most clutches, were laid at the peaks of these cycles. In the case of P. flavicauda, maximum hatchings occurred on days during which spring high tides fell near sunset (the cue for hatching to begin). It is likely that these hatchlings were rapidly flushed off the reef by the ebbing tides. The hatching cycles of P. wardi consistently peaked 4 d earlier in the lunar month. Consequently, hatchlings of this species remained in shallow water at least one tidal cycle longer than those of P. flavicauda. This difference may be a consequence of the different habitat specialisations of the two species. Both species bred seasonally during the warmest, calmest months of the year. This is not the period of least current flow on the Great Barrier Reef. The observed seasonality may reflect the best times for larval survival in the open sea rather than an adaptation that limits the loss of offspring from the parent populations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Albrecht, H.: Behaviour of four species of Atlantic damselfishes from Columbia, South America (Abudefduf saxatilus, A. taurus, Chromis multilineata, C. cyanea; Pisces, Pomacentridae). Z. Tierpsychol. 26, 662–676 (1969)
Allen, G. R.: The anenomefishes, 288 pp. New Jersey: T. F. H. Publications 1972
Allen, G. R.: Damselfishes of the south seas, 240 pp. New Jersey: T. F. H. Publications 1975
Andrews, J. C., A. W. Mitchell and N. F. Bellamy: Field studies of currents and simulation of oil dispersion in the central Great Barrier Reef. Proceedings of 6th Australian Conference on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, Gold Coast, 13–15 July 1983. Canberra: Institution of Engineers, Australia (in press)
Davies, P. J., B. M. Radke and C. R. Robison: The evolution of One Tree Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Bur. Minerals Resour. J. Aust. Geol. Geophys. 1, 231–240 (1976)
Den Boer, P. J.: Spreading of risk and stabilization of animal numbers. Acta. biotheor. 18, 165–194 (1968)
Doherty, P. J.: Biological and physical constraints on the populations of two sympatric territorial damselfishes on the southern Great Barrier Reef, 182 pp. Unpublished Ph. D. thesis, University of Sydney, Sydney 1980
Doherty, P. J.: Some effects of density on the juveniles of two species of tropical, territorial damselfish. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 65, 249–261 (1982)
Doherty, P. J.: Tropical, territorial damselfishes: is density limited by aggression or recruitment? Ecology 64, 176–190 (1983)
Doherty, P. J.: Coral reef fishes: recruitment-limited assemblages? Proc. 4th int. Symp. coral reefs (In press). (Ed. by E. Gomez. Manila, Philippines: University of the Philippines)
Doherty, P. J., D. McB. Williams and P. F. Sale: The adaptive significance of larval dispersal in coral reef fishes. Envir. Biol. Fish. (In press)
Fricke, H. W.: Ökologie und Sozialverhalten des Korallenbarsches Dascyllus trimaculatus (Pisces, Pomacentridae). Z. Tierpsychol. 32, 225–256 (1973)
Hobson, E. S.: Activity of Hawaiian reef fishes during the evening and morning transitions between daylight and darkness. Fish. Bull. U.S. 70, 715–740 (1972)
Hobson, E. S. and J. R. Chess: Trophic relationships among fishes and plankton at Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. Fish. Bull. U.S. 76, 133–153 (1978)
Johannes, R. E., Reproductive strategies of coastal marine fishes in the tropics. Envir. Biol. Fish. 3, 65–84 (1978)
Johannes, R. E., G. S. Helfman and J. M. Leis: Stock boundaries of reef and lagoon food fishes. Proc. 4th int. Symp. coral reefs (In press). (Ed. by E. Gomez. Manila, Philippines: University of the Philippines)
Keenleyside, M. H. A.: The behaviour of Abudefduf zonatus (Pisces: Pomacentridae) at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Anim. Behav. 20, 763–774 (1972)
Lasker, R.: Field criteria for survival of anchovy larvae: the relation between inshore chlorophyll maximum layers and successful first feeding. Fish. Bull. U.S. 73, 453–462 (1975)
Leis, J. M.: Distribution of fish larvae around Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef: coral reef lagoon as refuge? Proc. 4th int. Symp. coral reefs (In press). (Ed. by E. Gomez. Manila, Philippines: University of the Philippines)
Leis, J. M. and J. M. Miller: Offshore distributional patterns of Hawaiian fish larvae. Mar. Biol. 36, 359–367 (1976)
Lobel, P. S. and R. E. Johannes: Nesting, eggs and larvae of triggerfishes (Balistidae). Envir. Biol. Fish. 5, 251–252 (1980)
Ludington, C. A.: Tidal modifications and associated circulation in a platform reef lagoon. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 30, 425–430 (1979)
Moyer, J. T.: Reproductive behaviour of the damselfish Pomacentrus nagasakiensis at Miyake-Jima, Japan. Jap. J. Ichthyol. 22, 151–163 (1975)
Moyer, J. T. and L. R. Bell: Reproductive behaviour of the anenomefish Amphiprion clarki at Miyake-Jima, Japan. Jap. J. Ichthyol. 23, 23–32 (1976)
O'Connell, C. P. and L. P. Raymond: The effect of food density on survival and growth of early post yolk-sac larvae of the northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax Girard) in the laboratory. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 5, 187–197 (1970)
Pickard, G. L.: A review of the physical oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef and western Coral Sea. Monogr. Ser. Aust. Inst. mar. Sci. 2, 1–134 (1977)
Pressley, P. H.: Lunar periodicity in the spawning of yellowtail damselfish, Microspathodon chrysurus. Envir. Biol. Fish. 5, 153–159 (1980)
Reddingius, J. and P. J. Den Boer: Simulation experiments illustrating stabilization of animal numbers by spreading of risk. Oecologia 5, 240–284 (1970)
Ross, R. M.: Reproductive behaviour of the anenomefish Amphiprion melanopus on Guam. Copeia 1978, 103–107 (1978)
Russell, B. C.: Underwater observations on the reproductive activity of the demoiselle Chromis dispilus (Pisces: Pomacentridae). Mar. Biol. 10, 22–29 (1971)
Russell, B. C., G. R. V. Anderson and F. H. Talbot: Seasonality and recruitment of coral reef fishes. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 28, 521–528 (1977)
Sale, P. F.: The effect of territorial adult pomacentrid fishes on the recruitment and survival of juveniles on patches of coral rubble. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 24, 297–306 (1976)
Sale, P. F.: Maintenance of high diversity in coral reef fish communities. Am. Nat. 111, 337–359 (1977)
Sale, P. F.: Coexistence of coral reef fishes — a lottery for living space. Envir. Biol. Fish. 3, 85–102 (1978)
Sale, P. F.: Recruitment, loss and coexistence in a guild of territorial coral reef fishes. Oecologia 42, 159–177 (1979)
Steele, J. H.: The structure of marine ecosystems, 128 pp. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press 1974
Wangersky, P. J. and C. P. Wangersky: The manna effect: a model of phytoplankton patchiness in a regenerative system. Int. Revue ges. Hydrobiol. 65, 681–690 (1980)
Williams, A. H.: Ecology of the threespot damselfish: social organisation, age structure, and population stability. J. exp. mar. Biol. Ecol. 34, 197–213 (1978)
Williams, D. McB.: Dynamics of the pomacentrid community on small patch reefs in One Tree Lagoon (Great Barrier Reef). Bull. mar. Sci. 30, 159–170 (1980)
Williams, D. McB.: Daily, monthly and yearly variability in recruitment of a guild of coral reef fishes. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 10, 231–237 (1983)
Williams, D. McB. and P. F. Sale: Spatial and temporal patterns of recruitment of juvenile coral reef fishes to coral habitats within “One Tree Lagoon”, Great Barrier Reef. Mar. Biol. 65, 245–253 (1981)
Williams, D. McB., E. Wolanski and J. C. Andrews: Potential movement of planktonic larvae in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef. (In preparation)
Wolanski, E.: Physical oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. Proprints for Environmental Engineering Conference, Townsville, 8–10 July, pp. 8–13. Canberra: Institution of Engineers, Australia 1981
Woodhead, P. M. J.: Sea surface circulation in the southern region of the Great Barrier Reef, spring 1966. Aust. J. mar. Freshwat. Res. 21, 89–102 (1970)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by G. F. Humphrey, Sydney
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Doherty, P.J. Diel, lunar and seasonal rhythms in the reproduction of two tropical damselfishes: Pomacentrus flavicauda and P. wardi . Mar. Biol. 75, 215–224 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406005
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00406005