Can the limited marsupium space be a limiting factor for Syngnathus abaster females? Insights from a population with size-assortative mating

The Journal of Animal Ecology
K SilvaN M Monteiro

Abstract

1. Some syngnathid species show varying degrees of sex role reversal aside from male pregnancy, with females competing for access to mates and sometimes presenting conspicuous secondary sexual characters. Among other variables, brooding space constraints are usually considered a key element in female reproductive success, contributing strongly to the observed morphological and behavioural sexual differences. Nevertheless, a close relationship between sex role reversal and male brooding space limitation has not yet been accurately demonstrated in field studies. 2. The present work, conducted over two consecutive breeding seasons in a wild population of the sex role-reversed pipefish Syngnathus abaster, simultaneously analysed egg number and occupied space, as well as the free area in the male's marsupium. The number of eggs that would fit in the observed unoccupied space was estimated. 3. Contrary to what would be expected, given the marked sexual dimorphism observed in the population studied, where females were larger and more colourful, male brooding space did not appear to limit female reproduction as neither large nor small individuals presented a fully occupied pouch. Interestingly, the largest unoccupied areas of marsupium...Continue Reading

References

May 2, 1991·Nature·T H Clutton-Brock, A C Vincent
May 7, 2003·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Adam G JonesJohn C Avise
Dec 7, 2006·Biology Letters·Gudbjörg A OlafsdóttirSigurdur S Snorrason
Jul 1, 1992·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·A VincentG Rosenqvist

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Citations

Jun 10, 2011·Journal of Fish Biology·C LindqvistG Rosenqvist

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