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Publication
The role of male visual and chemical cues on the activation of female courtship behaviour in the sex-role reversed peacock blenny
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Chemical cues during courtship in peacock blenny Salaria pavo did not add significantly to the
response of visual stimuli and females did not court when a male was not visible. The results
showed that female S. pavo courtship behaviour was elicited exclusively by male visual features
and not by a multicomponent signal in different sensory modalities. The time spent by females
courting the male and exhibiting the nuptial colouration during visual trials correlated with the
size of the male’s crest, suggesting a signalling function for this trait. Alternative hypothesis for
the function of the putative pheromones released by the male’s anal gland are discussed.
Evidence that female sexual motivation decreases towards the end of the breeding season is also
provided, which should be considered in future mate choice experiments.
Description
Keywords
Pheromone Visual cues Chemical cues Salaria pavo Peacock blenny Multicomponent signals
Citation
Journal of Fish Biology, 61, 96-105