Pair formation in the herbivorous rabbitfish Siganusdoliatus. Issue 6 (13th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brandl, S. J.; Bellwood, D. R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 82:Issue 6(2013)
• Page Start: 2031
• Page End: 2044
• Publication Date: 2013-05-13
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This study investigated the basis of pair formation in the abundant herbivorous rabbitfish <italic>Siganus doliatus</italic> on Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef. Pair formation was the most common social system in <italic>S. doliatus</italic>, with 67·4% of all individuals occurring in pairs. Pairs were stable (<italic>i.e</italic>. individuals remained with the same partner throughout the study) and pair members were found within 5 m of each other 82·9% of the time. Of the examined pairs, 25% were homosexual resulting in a proportion of heterosexual pairs (75%) that was significantly lower than expected if pairs were formed solely for reproductive reasons. Therefore, although reproduction appears to be the main driver of pair formation in <italic>S. doliatus</italic>, other factors are likely to influence this behaviour. The high density of individuals on the reef crest (5·7 ± 0·9 individuals 200 m⁻²; mean ± <sc>s.e</sc>.) and extensively overlapping home ranges of pairs indicated that the defence of territories plays no role in pair formation. Instead, it appears that pair formation in <italic>S. doliatus</italic> is driven, in part, by other, non‐reproductive, ecological factors. It is suggested that pair formation allows for increased vigilance against predation and enables <italic>S. doliatus</italic> to execute a novel feeding behaviour.</p> </abstract>