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Sexual development and reproductive demography of the green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the Solomon Islands

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Abstract

An investigation of the reproductive biology of the green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) from three areas in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands revealed that B. muricatum exhibits several features that differ from the pattern of reproductive development observed in most parrotfishes. Unlike most parrotfishes, histological evidence suggests that the sexual pattern of B. muricatum is essentially gonochoristic with high incidences of anatomical but non-functional hermaphroditism. B. muricatum also differs from other parrotfishes in that all males pass through an immature female (or bisexual) phase as demonstrated by all adult testis retaining the ex-ovarian lumen and peripheral sperm sinuses in the gonad wall. However, a protogynous diandric reproductive strategy cannot be excluded given that sampling may have missed transitional individuals. Marked variation in the demography of male B. muricatum between the three locations examined is considered to reflect variation in historical fishing effort.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all of the artisanal spearfishermen who assisted in this study, and are particularly gratefully for the tireless field assistance of Warren Kama and Michael Giningele. We also thank the National and Provincial Governments of the Solomon Islands and the Roviana communities for permission to carry out this research. We thank J. Ackerman, W. Robbins and the histological facility School of Marine Biology James Cook University for assistance with processing of reproductive tissues. Finally, we thank Less O’Neill, Anthropology Department, University of Otago, for producing Fig. 1. Financial support for this work was provided by The PADI FOUNDATION, The PADI AWARE Project, The John D. and Catherine P. Macarthur Foundation (Award # 60243) and a University of Otago PhD Scholarship to Richard Hamilton.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Nature Conservancy, Indo-Pacific Resource Centre, 51 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia

    R. J. Hamilton

  2. School of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

    S. Adams & J. H. Choat

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  1. R. J. Hamilton
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  2. S. Adams
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  3. J. H. Choat
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Correspondence to R. J. Hamilton.

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Communicated by Biology Editor M.I. McCormick.

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Hamilton, R.J., Adams, S. & Choat, J.H. Sexual development and reproductive demography of the green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) in the Solomon Islands. Coral Reefs 27, 153–163 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-007-0304-0

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