32
R.S. Nemeth
arena and spawning area encompass multiple male spawning territories (Fig. 2.5 ).
Males cruise along territorial boundaries, posturing, challenging, chasing and fi ghting
rival males, displaying breeding colouration and courting females. Females either
swim around to inspect nest sites (e.g. triggerfi sh) or remain hidden under coral heads
(i.e. groupers) prior to pair spawning (Shapiro et al. 1993 ; Gladstone 1994 ; Sadovy
et al. 1994a ; Rhodes and Sadovy 2002b ; Nemeth et al. 2006b ; Pickert et al. 2006 ;
Fig. 2.5 Spatial relationship of male spawning territories ( circles ) within the courtship arena
( A , dashed oval ) where males compete for and defend higher quality spawning habitat (i.e. core of
courtship arena). Successful males near the core will probably have greater access to females or
nest sites ( triangles ) than males in marginal habitats at the edge of the courtship arena. As fi sh
numbers decrease ( B ), from fi shing mortality for example, the movement and concentration of the
remaining fi sh into the core ( dashed arrows ) would result in a reduction in the relative size of
the courtship arena compared to ( A ). Alternatively, if the number of spawning fi sh increases through
greater recruitment or reduced fi shing mortality, competition for spawning territories at the primary
spawning site may increase ( A ¢ ). In this case, subordinate males (and females) may establish a
satellite or secondary spawning aggregation site nearby ( A ″)
R.S. Nemeth
arena and spawning area encompass multiple male spawning territories (Fig. 2.5 ).
Males cruise along territorial boundaries, posturing, challenging, chasing and fi ghting
rival males, displaying breeding colouration and courting females. Females either
swim around to inspect nest sites (e.g. triggerfi sh) or remain hidden under coral heads
(i.e. groupers) prior to pair spawning (Shapiro et al. 1993 ; Gladstone 1994 ; Sadovy
et al. 1994a ; Rhodes and Sadovy 2002b ; Nemeth et al. 2006b ; Pickert et al. 2006 ;
Fig. 2.5 Spatial relationship of male spawning territories ( circles ) within the courtship arena
( A , dashed oval ) where males compete for and defend higher quality spawning habitat (i.e. core of
courtship arena). Successful males near the core will probably have greater access to females or
nest sites ( triangles ) than males in marginal habitats at the edge of the courtship arena. As fi sh
numbers decrease ( B ), from fi shing mortality for example, the movement and concentration of the
remaining fi sh into the core ( dashed arrows ) would result in a reduction in the relative size of
the courtship arena compared to ( A ). Alternatively, if the number of spawning fi sh increases through
greater recruitment or reduced fi shing mortality, competition for spawning territories at the primary
spawning site may increase ( A ¢ ). In this case, subordinate males (and females) may establish a
satellite or secondary spawning aggregation site nearby ( A ″)