Patterns of color phase indicate spawn timing at a Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus spawning aggregation

Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus are a large bodied, top level predator that is ecologically important throughout the Caribbean. Although typically solitary, Nassau grouper form large annual spawning aggregations at predictable times in spe- cific locations. In 2003, The Cayman Islands Marine Con...

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Published inCurrent zoology Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 73 - 83
Main Authors Archer, Stephanie K, Heppell, Scott A, Semmens, Brice X, Pattengill-Semmens, Christy V, Bush, Phillippe G, Mccoy, Croy M, Johnson, Bradley C
Format Journal Article
LanguageChinese
English
Published Oxford University Press 01.02.2012
Subjects
Epinephelus striatus
Nassau grouper
Nuptial coloration
Spawning aggregation
Spawning behavior
产卵期
图案
海洋保护
石斑鱼
线状
聚集
色相
西印度群岛
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Summary:Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus are a large bodied, top level predator that is ecologically important throughout the Caribbean. Although typically solitary, Nassau grouper form large annual spawning aggregations at predictable times in spe- cific locations. In 2003, The Cayman Islands Marine Conservation Board established protection for a newly rediscovered Nassau grouper spawning aggregation on Little Cayman, British West Indies. The large size of this aggregation provides a unique oppor- tunity to study the behavior of Nassau grouper on a relatively intact spawning aggregation. During non-spawning periods Nassau grouper display a reddish-brown-and-white barred coloration. However, while aggregating they exhibit three additional color phases： ＂bicolor＂, ＂dark＂, and ＂white belly＂. We video sampled the population on multiple days leading up to spawning across five spawning years. Divers focused a laser caliper equipped video camera on individual fish at the aggregation. We later ana- lyzed the video to determine the length of the fish and record the color phase. Our observations show that the relative proportion of fish in the bicolor color phase increases significantly on the day leading up to the primary night of spawning. The increase in the proportion of the bicolor color phase from 0.05 early in the aggregation to 0.40 on the day of spawning suggests that this color phase conveys that a fish is behaviorally and physiologically prepared to spawn. Additionally, 82.7% of fish exhibiting dark or white belly coloration early in the aggregation period suggests that these color phases are not only shown by female fish as was previously posited [Current Zoology 58 （1）： 73-83, 2012].
Bibliography:Stephanie K ARCHER1., Scott A HEPPELL1, Brice X SEMMENS2, Christy V PATTENGILL-SEMMENS1, Phillippe G BUSH3, Croy M MCCOY3, Bradley C JOHNSON31 Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, 104 Nash Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA 2 Reef Environmental Education Foundation （REEF）, PO Box 246, Key Largo F1 33037, USA 3 Department of Environment, Cayman Islands Government, P.O. Box 486GT, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
11-5794/Q
Nassau grouper, Epinephelus striatus, Spawning aggregation, Nuptial coloration, Spawning behavior
Nassau grouper Epinephelus striatus are a large bodied, top level predator that is ecologically important throughout the Caribbean. Although typically solitary, Nassau grouper form large annual spawning aggregations at predictable times in spe- cific locations. In 2003, The Cayman Islands Marine Conservation Board established protection for a newly rediscovered Nassau grouper spawning aggregation on Little Cayman, British West Indies. The large size of this aggregation provides a unique oppor- tunity to study the behavior of Nassau grouper on a relatively intact spawning aggregation. During non-spawning periods Nassau grouper display a reddish-brown-and-white barred coloration. However, while aggregating they exhibit three additional color phases： ＂bicolor＂, ＂dark＂, and ＂white belly＂. We video sampled the population on multiple days leading up to spawning across five spawning years. Divers focused a laser caliper equipped video camera on individual fish at the aggregation. We later ana- lyzed the video to determine the length of the fish and record the color phase. Our observations show that the relative proportion of fish in the bicolor color phase increases significantly on the day leading up to the primary night of spawning. The increase in the proportion of the bicolor color phase from 0.05 early in the aggregation to 0.40 on the day of spawning suggests that this color phase conveys that a fish is behaviorally and physiologically prepared to spawn. Additionally, 82.7% of fish exhibiting dark or white belly coloration early in the aggregation period suggests that these color phases are not only shown by female fish as was previously posited [Current Zoology 58 （1）： 73-83, 2012].
ISSN:1674-5507
2396-9814
DOI:10.1093/czoolo/58.1.73