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- Title
Intercohort cannibalism and parturition-associated behaviour of adult swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri Heckel (Pisces: Poeciliidae).
- Authors
Jones, Clifford L. W.; Kaiser, Horst; Hecht, Thomas
- Abstract
The post-parturition behavioural patterns of adult Xiphophorus helleri (Heckel) were described and quantified by recording their duration and/or frequency in glass tanks. All births occurred in the dark. Female behaviour might increase the chance of newborn juvenile survival: at the top of the tank, where juveniles are more vulnerable to predation, the females gave birth in the artificial refuge, while no parturition took place in the refuge at the bottom. Birth-giving females were no less cannibalistic than males and other females. There was a reduction in cannibalism and the frequency of secondary attacks with time, even though the number of juveniles in the tank continued to increase due to ongoing parturition. Most adults were found at the bottom of the water column during the first 500 min of parturition, after which they were distributed equally in the water column. The movement of adults, away from the bottom and consequently away from the juveniles corresponded with an increase in feeding on alternative food and a reduction in cannibalism. Thus, cannibalism in swordtail might be opportunistic predation.
- Subjects
FISHERIES; XIPHOPHORUS helleri; SWORDTAILS (Fish); CANNIBALISM; FISH behavior; PREDATORS of fishes; FISH food; FISH growth; PREDATION
- Publication
Aquaculture Research, 2007, Vol 38, Issue 7, p718
- ISSN
1355-557X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2109.2007.01715.x