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Filial cannibalism in Tilapia mariae

Filial cannibalism in Tilapia mariae Summary In 152 isolated pairs of Tilapia mariae the parents ate 41% of their broods before these reached the frees‐wimming stage. The cannibalized broods were usually eaten at the egg‐stage. Most brood‐eating was done by the males, as concluded from direct observations and from variation between males (but not between females) in the tendency of eat broods. Cannibalistic behaviour was more common when: 1. the relative weight of female (female weight to male weight) was small (< .4) 2. the relative weight was large (> .7) but not too large (> .85) 3. the female was large (> 70 g) 4. the pair spawned at certain times of the year (outside breeding peaks) 5. the spawn was exceptionally small (less than 100 eggs). In normally sized spawns neither the number of eggs nor the size of the eggs or the spawn could be related to cannibalism. The probability of cannibalism was not altered in the second spawnings of the pairs after an experience of a first unsuccessful spawning. Many of these changes in frequency of cannibalism can be related to the males' expected reproductive success. Thus they possibly reflect an underlying natural adaptive variation which partly has been modified by the aquarium milieu. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Applied Ichthyology Wiley

Filial cannibalism in Tilapia mariae

Journal of Applied Ichthyology , Volume 2 (2) – Apr 1, 1986

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References (19)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0175-8659
eISSN
1439-0426
DOI
10.1111/j.1439-0426.1986.tb00431.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Summary In 152 isolated pairs of Tilapia mariae the parents ate 41% of their broods before these reached the frees‐wimming stage. The cannibalized broods were usually eaten at the egg‐stage. Most brood‐eating was done by the males, as concluded from direct observations and from variation between males (but not between females) in the tendency of eat broods. Cannibalistic behaviour was more common when: 1. the relative weight of female (female weight to male weight) was small (< .4) 2. the relative weight was large (> .7) but not too large (> .85) 3. the female was large (> 70 g) 4. the pair spawned at certain times of the year (outside breeding peaks) 5. the spawn was exceptionally small (less than 100 eggs). In normally sized spawns neither the number of eggs nor the size of the eggs or the spawn could be related to cannibalism. The probability of cannibalism was not altered in the second spawnings of the pairs after an experience of a first unsuccessful spawning. Many of these changes in frequency of cannibalism can be related to the males' expected reproductive success. Thus they possibly reflect an underlying natural adaptive variation which partly has been modified by the aquarium milieu.

Journal

Journal of Applied IchthyologyWiley

Published: Apr 1, 1986

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