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Effect of paired encounters on plasma androgens and behaviour in males and females of the spiny damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus
Citation
Hay, AC and Pankhurst, NW, Effect of paired encounters on plasma androgens and behaviour in males and females of the spiny damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus, Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 38, (2) pp. 127-138. ISSN 1023-6244 (2005) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1080/10236240500125528
Abstract
Sexuallly mature male and female spiny damselfish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Pomacentridae) were introduced to resident fish of both sexes in paired encounter trials and the effect on activity, agonistic behaviour and plasma levels of testosterone (T) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) in males, and T and 17β-estradiol (E2) in females, and cortisol in both sexes was determined. Introduced males showed suppressed levels of T in the presence of both resident males and females, whereas resident males showed elevated T in response to introduced males but not females. Plasma 11-KT levels were unchanged in either resident or introduced males. Resident males showed increased activity in the presence of males but not females. Resident females showed an increase in activity when paired with introduced females and greater aggressive behaviour towards females than males. There were no differences in plasma hormone levels in either resident or introduced female fish. Plasma cortisol levels were low in all fish and stress effects did not appear to account for differences in T levels in males. The results of the present study show that elevations in plasma T levels in resident male spiny damselfish are associated only with male presence but that suppression of T in introduced fish occurs irrespective of the sex of the resident. In contrast resident females, which show stronger evidence of aggressive behaviour do not show changes in plasma androgen levels. This suggests that aggressive behaviour in male and female fishes may be mediated by different endocrine pathways. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
| Research Group: | Fisheries Sciences |
| Research Field: | Fish Pests and Diseases |
| Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
| Objective Group: | Fisheries - Aquaculture |
| Objective Field: | Fisheries - Aquaculture not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Hay, AC (Ms Amanda Hay) |
| UTAS Author: | Pankhurst, NW (Professor Ned Pankhurst) |
| ID Code: | 37295 |
| Year Published: | 2005 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 12 |
| Deposited By: | TAFI - Aquaculture |
| Deposited On: | 2005-08-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2006-04-01 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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