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Reproductive migrations of the sex role reversed pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis (Pisces; Syngnathidae)
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Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
Using an individual identification technique, a population of worm pipefish Nerophis lumbriciformis
was followed during 19 months, in order to determine the exact use of the intertidal and,
considering the specific movement patterns of males and females, the mating system exhibited by
this population. Field observations showed that the number of adults increased during the
breeding season, withmales arriving 1 month earlier than females. Furthermore, males and females
presented distinct permanence periods, showing that the intertidal is used as a mating arena. It was
also observed that both male and female worm pipefish mated repeatedly over the span of a
reproductive season, but females exhibited shorter remating intervals. Also, females stayed for
longer periods on the mating grounds, the intertidal zone, whereas males typically left for the
subtidal after mating, usually returning within 2 months. These inter-sexual differences in the
occupation of the intertidal suggest that females breed with different males but also that males
accept eggs from various females since, on their return, a new group of mating partners was now
available. Thus, N. lumbriciformis might be considered polygynandric. It is a clearly dimorphic
species in spite of the observed polygynandry, suggesting that differences in remating intervals may
be influential in determining the strength of sexual selection along with what may be expected from
the polygynandrous mating system alone.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Mating system Nerophis lumbriciformis Polygynandry Potential reproductive rate Syngnathidae
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Journal of Fish Biology, 69, 66-74