Aggressive behaviour among convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) fry of different sizes and its importance to brood adoption

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (12) ◽  
pp. 2358-2362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon A. Fraser ◽  
Brian D. Wisenden ◽  
Miles H. A. Keenleyside
Keyword(s):  
Dilution Effect ◽  
Young Measures ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Parental Rejection ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Free Swimming ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Differential Predation

Convict cichlids (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) exhibit extended biparental care of their young. Parents will adopt unrelated (foreign) conspecific young of similar size to or smaller than their own but reject larger foreign young. Adoption of smaller foreign young may benefit the parents by reducing loss of their own young to predators by the dilution effect, which may be enhanced by differential predation on the smaller young. Another factor influencing adoption is that larger foreign young may pose a direct predatory threat to the host parents' young. Measures of aggression among free-swimming young of different sizes showed that there was at least a 1 mm (standard length) size difference before larger young attacked smaller, a 3 mm difference before injury occurred, and a 4–5 mm difference before predation occurred. Parents were initially more discriminating than their young with respect to the size of foreign young accepted. As their young grew and became stronger swimmers, parents less actively rejected larger foreign young; however, they continued to reject them before they were large enough to pose a direct predatory threat. Parental rejection of relatively large foreign young is therefore based more on protecting their own young from differential predation than from aggression by larger adoptees.

The influence of predators on adoption behaviour in adult convict cichlids (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum)

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1165-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon A. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Alloparental Care ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Hypothesis Model ◽  
Differential Predation ◽  
High Predation ◽  
Brood Guarding

The adoption of unrelated young by brood-guarding convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) parents is influenced by several factors. Three of these are the risk of intrabrood aggression, the risk of differential predation of their own young, and the trade-off between the benefits of brood dilution and the costs of differential predation. This study introduces the "adoptable fry size hypothesis" model, which synthesizes the findings of earlier studies on each of these factors and details the range of adoptable fry sizes that increase foster brood survival across fry development. The influence of predation risk on the behaviour of parents toward foreign fry of different sizes was examined. Brood-guarding adults approached and mouthed at foreign fry larger than the upper limit of the model least often, but bit at them most often, thus excluding them. As host fry size increased, the number of behaviours directed at foreign fry decreased. Predator number did not significantly influence the size of foreign fry toward which the adults directed their behaviour. However, the overall frequency of these behaviours increased with increasing predator number, confirming previous studies suggesting that alloparental care is motivated by high predation risk.

Weight asymmetry and sequential assessment in convict cichlid contests

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marten A. Koops ◽  
James W. A. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Temporal Overlap

We staged contests between pairs of convict cichlids (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) that varied in weight ratio (larger/smaller) from 1.02 to 4.86 to test the predictions of the sequential assessment model. As predicted, contests proceeded in a consistent sequence of behaviour (lateral display, biting, mouth wrestling, and circling), the duration of contests was inversely correlated with weight ratio, and the duration of complete phases of behaviour was independent of weight ratio (a phase is complete if the contest escalates to the next behavioural phase). However, there was temporal overlap in the occurrence of different behaviour patterns and variation in the duration of contests that are not explained by the model. Nevertheless, the structure of convict cichlid contests is consistent with the logic of the sequential assessment model.

Filial Imprinting in the Convict Cichlid Fish Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum

Behaviour ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 65 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 138-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hay Thomas F.
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Preference Test ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
General Increase ◽  
Free Swimming ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Precocial Birds ◽  
Extended Parental Care

The convict cichlid fish, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, exhibits extended parental care in both the laboratory and the field. Families of this species were observed in Lake Xiloa', Nicaragua, during part of the breeding season. Young fry (less than 5 days free swimming) could be induced to follow a variety of "dummy" parents when their own parents were restrained at a distance. Older fry fled the dummies in the same manner as they fled predators. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to analyze further the responses of convict cichlid fry to parental dummies. Experiment I demonstrated the following: 1. Fry showed consistent preferences in tests with 5 pairs of mechanically moved dummies. Some of these preferences involve species characteristic cues. 2. Responsiveness to dummies increased over time within a test and over repeated tests. Responsiveness changed non-monotonically with age; those tested at 1 to 3 days free swimming were most responsive, 6 to 8 day old fry were least responsive and 14 to 16 day old fry showed intermediate responsiveness. 3. Preferences were weaker in the older, less responsive fry but were generally in the same direction as in younger fry. Experiment II tested the effects of experience with a particular dummy on the preferences demonstrated in Experiment I. For all ages and for most dummy pairs there was a significant interaction between training condition (preferred vs non-preferred dummy) and preference. Experience with a single dummy also resulted in a general increase in responsiveness to the two dummies in the preference test. The present results are discussed in terms of selection pressures presumed to operate on natural populations of C. nigrofasciatum and also in terms of research on "imprinting" in precocial birds.

Effects of Parent and Offspring Food Rations On Parental Care in the Convict Cichlid Fish (Pisces, Cichlidae)

Behaviour ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 129 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 63-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Kieffer ◽  
Robert J. Lavery
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Food Abundance ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
More Care

AbstractAnimals may provide more care for their young under certain environmental conditions. For instance, if food is plentiful parents may invest more in the current brood than if food is scarce, assuming that food abundance is correlated with parent and offspring condition. In this experiment, we manipulated food levels (low vs high) for both parents and offspring to determine if parental care is influenced by parental and/or offspring condition in the convict cichlid, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum. Parents which were fed a higher ration gained weight, whereas parents fed a lower ration lost weight. Similarly, young which were fed a higher ration were significantly larger than young fed a lower ration. Parents which were fed a higher ration defended their brood more vigorously than parents fed a lower ration. Offspring condition had little effect on parental care. Furthermore, females consistently invested more than males. The results show that parental convict cichlids adjust care in response to their own food supply rather than that of their offspring.

Breeding territoriality and pair formation in the convict cichlid (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum; Pisces, Cichlidae)

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 960-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Mackereth ◽  
Miles H. A. Keenleyside
Keyword(s):  
Parental Investment ◽  
Pair Formation ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Cichlid Fishes ◽  
Breeding Territory ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Investment Patterns ◽  
Spawning Sites

In many biparental species a sex difference in parental investment in a brood before fertilization, such as establishing a breeding territory or preparing a nest, may be an important component of the overall pattern of parental investment. Prefertilization investment patterns have been described for several species of biparental cichlid fishes, but there are discrepancies in the descriptions for the convict cichlid, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum. This study describes quantitatively the prespawning behaviour of male and female convict cichlids and examines the influence on their behaviour of limiting the number of available spawning sites. The results indicate that pair formation begins several days before spawning when the female begins to follow a male and chase other females away from him. The pair then begins to spend more time in a smaller area where spawning eventually occurs. The breeding territory is usually established by the pair on the day of spawning. There was little difference in the pattern of prespawning behaviour offish with abundant versus limited spawning sites. It appears that neither sex will establish a territory until the female is ready to spawn and the pair has formed.

scholarly journals Convict cichlid parents that stay with the same mate develop unique and consistent divisions of roles

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10534
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Snekser ◽  
Murray Itzkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Division Of Labor ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Direct Care ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
Parental Roles ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Amatitlania Nigrofasciata ◽  
Over Time

Previous studies, largely on avian species, have suggested that pairs that are permanently monogamous and have biparental care develop a coordination over time that enhances offspring survival. If this is the case, we predicted that a parent involved in biparental care would develop a pattern of biparental care specific to a particular mate and remain consistent in that pattern over time but would lose this pattern if it were to change mates. We tested this prediction with the convict cichlid fish (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) which has biparental care that is both complex and flexible. In this species, each parent can perform all parental roles but typically shows a division of labor in which males typically defend against offspring predators while the female typically provides direct care to the offspring. At various times, the parents briefly switch roles. Our experiments revealed that pairs that remained together for two consecutive broods were more consistent in their parental behaviors, including time they spent near the intruder and in the nest compared to pairs that were comprised of individuals that had previously mated with other partners. Also individuals that remained with the same partner were also more consistent as a parental unit, maintaining their sex-specific roles of males defending aggressively against an intruder and females spending more time directly caring for young. While our experiment clearly support our prediction that individuals do develop unique coordination with specific individuals, convict cichlids in nature appear to be largely serially monogamous in which they mate only once before changing partners. Thus, it is likely this coordination may be available in many species that have biparental care but become adaptive when repeated matings become common.

THE BENEFITS OF DEAR ENEMY RECOGNITION IN THREE-CONTENDER CONVICT CICHLID (CICHLASOMA NIGROFASCIATUM) CONTESTS

Behaviour ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 136 (8) ◽  
pp. 983-1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray Itzkowitz ◽  
John Leiser
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Dear Enemy ◽  
Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatum ◽  
Overall Response ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Enemy Recognition

AbstractWe staged eight types of contests using adult male convict cichlids (Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum) to study the effects of dear enemy recognition on the defensive decisions of territorial residents when confronted by two opponents. Our observations supported the hypothesis that residents faced with two intruders simultaneously would divide the overall response shown to a single intruder between the two intruders with respect to their relative threats (i.e. sizes). Consequently, in comparison to a single-intruder circumstance, the residents' attacks against any given intruder were reduced. The relative threat of competitors was dramatically altered when one of the residents' opponents was a dear enemy neighbour. When faced with a dear enemy neighbour and an unfamiliar intruder simultaneously, residents preferentially confronted the unfamiliar opponent. That is, the establishment of dear enemy recognition between a resident and a neighbour allowed the resident to direct his aggression to the greater competitive threat, i.e. the intruder. In this case, the amount of aggression residents exhibited toward the intruder was similar to the amount of aggression against a single nonterritorial intruder. Therefore, having a dear enemy neighbour freed a resident to defend its territory against an intruder with similar efficiency compared to when the intruder had been the resident's only opponent.

scholarly journals Serial monogamy benefits both sexes in the biparental convict cichlid

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Snekser ◽  
Murray Itzkowitz
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Parental Behavior ◽  
Convict Cichlid ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Serial Monogamy ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Amatitlania Nigrofasciata ◽  
Males And Females

Monogamy can be either long-term or serial, with new pairs formed with each breeding bout. Costs and benefits are associated with each strategy. Because biparental convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) typically switch mates, exhibiting serial monogamy, we tested for the costs associated with forcing individuals to remain with the same mate. Convict cichlids were observed over two successive breeding bouts, either with the same or a new, equally experienced, mate. Parental behavior did not differ between breeding bouts, nor did brood size. Surprisingly, fish that remained with their original partner for a second bout took significantly longer to produce a brood compared to fish that paired with new partners. New partners were also more likely to successfully produce a second brood than re-mated partners. This is in contrast to the majority of bird studies that show many benefits to staying with the same partner for multiple broods. In convict cichlids, there seems to be no benefit associated with remaining with the same partner and switching mates reduces duration between broods for both males and females, potentially increasing overall reproductive success.

scholarly journals Behavioral and Endocrine Alterations to Partner Interactions and Offspring Care during Periods of Conflict

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Paciorek ◽  
Leese Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Pair Bond ◽  
Biparental Care ◽  
Resident Male ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Pair Bonds ◽  
Convict Cichlids ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Endocrine Alterations

Abstract Biparental care has evolved to ensure successful rearing of offspring. However, separation during periods of care can lead to conflicts that might negatively impact pair bonds and offspring care. In this study, pair-bonded convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) were observed for changes in behavior toward their partners and offspring before and after a period of separation. Males and females were designated either as a Resident (remain with offspring) or Removed (separated from partner and offspring for 5 days) individual. Behaviors between partners and toward offspring were measured before and after separation, and compared to the levels of behavior of control pairs (never separated), as well as individuals introduced to a novel partner instead. Cortisol levels of Resident male and female A. nigrofasciata were assayed using water-borne hormone collection before and after separation. Aggression between pair bond members did increase following reintroduction, but did not lead to the termination of pair bonds. Resident females showed more aggression to novel partners than Resident males. Offspring care decreased in both Resident and Removed females. Experimental pairs decreased the amount of time spent interacting with intruders. Cortisol levels were significantly higher among experimental pairs compared with control pairs that did not experience a separation. Females (both control and experimental) showed small, yet significant increases in cortisol levels, while both control and experimental males did not. These results suggest that while pair bonds appear resilient, prolonged separations influence pair bond and parental care dynamics, both behaviorally and hormonally, and require pairs to re-establish roles, resulting in less time caring for offspring.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document