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Abstract(s)
The ecology and mating system of two populations
of the peacock blenny Salaria pavo that have been
reported to differ in sexual behaviour were studied. In the
Gulf of Trieste, a northern Adriatic Sea population lives in
rocky shores, whilst in the Ria Formosa, an Atlantic
population inhabits a coastal lagoon with sandy barrier
islands. In the Gulf of Trieste, nest availability was found to
be higher and nest aggregation lower than in Ria Formosa.
Nesting males courted females more and in higher
proportion, and inversely, females directed less courtship
displays towards nest holders in the Gulf of Trieste than in
Ria Formosa. The relative frequency of small female-like
males that reproduce by parasitically fertilizing eggs in the
larger males’ nests was lower in the Gulf of Trieste
population. This variation in the sexual behaviour of
nesting males and females is likely to reflect a plastic
behavioural response to the varying ecological conditions.
The difference between populations in the relative frequency
of parasitic males suggests that the male alternative reproductive
tactics are condition-dependent.
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Citation
Acta Ethologica, 15, 25-31