Behavioural responses of female Neogobius melanostomus to odours of conspecifics

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

Publication Title

Journal of Fish Biology

Volume

67

Issue

3

First Page

615

Last Page

626

Abstract

The behavioural responses of reproductive and non-reproductive female round gobies Neogobius melanostomus to water conditioned by reproductive and non-reproductive males and females were tested. The behavioural responses of reproductive female round gobies exposed to odour of reproductive males included increased time spent near the source of the odour, elevated swimming velocities and directed movement to and around the odour source when compared with their responses to control water. These results suggested that pheromones released from reproductive males may induce spawning behaviour in reproductive females. Non-reproductive females exposed to reproductive female odour spent significantly more time near the odour source of reproductive females compared with control water. Non-reproductive females also showed directed movement towards and around the odour source when exposed to reproductive female odour. These results suggested that round gobies use inter-sexual and intra-sexual pheromones and that both sex and reproductive status are important in the detection and release of these pheromones.

DOI

10.1111/j.0022-1112.2005.00762.x

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS