Date of Award
2013
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Biological sciences, Psychology, Fanning behaviour, Female response, Reproductive status, Round goby
Supervisor
Lynda D. Corkum
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Determination of reproductive status in male round gobies can be challenging and the specifics of communication between males and females prior to spawning are unknown. First, I observed male fanning behaviour and compared this to both morphological and physiological measurements to determine if fanning is related to condition or reproductive status. My findings suggest that fins may be a useful measure of reproductive status and that fanning behaviour may be an important aspect of courtship potentially revealing parental abilities. I subsequently examined female responses to changes in flow in the presence of reproductive and juvenile male conditioned water using a y-maze flume experiment. My findings revealed that reproductive females prefer low flow conditions and reproductive conditioned water, whereas non-reproductive females prefer the opposite. This research represents the first investigation into the possible role of displacement fanning in this species and whether females may be using flow when evaluating potential mates.
Recommended Citation
Wantola, Kristina Elizabeth, "Fanning behaviour and communication in the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), an invasive fish" (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 4882.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/4882