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The role of agonistic sounds in male nest defence in the painted goby Pomatoschistus pictus

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Resumo:Agonistic behaviour plays an important role in a species reproduction and survival. Several animals, including fish, use acoustic signals in early phases of disputes over territories or mates. Acoustic communication can be used during mutual assessment and help to avoid overt aggression, which can lead to severe body injuries or eventually to mortality. In this study we carried out playback experiments to test the function of agonistic sounds in territorial defence in a small marine goby. We measured the behaviour of individual males towards two nests placed in opposite sides of the aquarium, associated with either conspecific agonistic sounds or a control: silence or white noise. Sounds were played back interactively, i.e. a sequence of sounds was produced when the fish approached a nest. Additionally, we made similar experiments that also included visual stimuli that consisted of a conspecific male in a confinement aquarium near each nest. We registered the number of times the male approached, avoided, explored, entered and exited each nest type. In the silence vs sound treatment, males approached similarly nests associated with conspecific sounds or silent nests. However, males avoided nests associated with agonistic sounds more frequently than silent nests regardless of the presence of a nearby male. Further, males entered and exited nests associated with agonistic sounds more frequently than silent ones regardless of the absence/presence of visual stimuli. We found no significant effect of the playback treatment in any measured male behaviour when the control was white noise. The results suggest that agonistic sounds are effective in territorial defence in this species but the actual presence of a male actively guarding the nest is needed to prevent nest intrusion. Further, we can exclude the possibility that any sound may act as a deterrent in nest occupation.
Autores principais:Pereira, Ricardo Jorge Soares, 1988-
Assunto:Bioacústica Comportamento agonístico Peixes teleósteos Teses de mestrado - 2012
Ano:2012
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:dissertação de mestrado
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade de Lisboa
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa

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