Effects of salinity on nest-building behaviour in a marine fish
BMC ecology, 2016•Springer
Background Parental allocation and reproductive success are often strongly influenced by
environmental factors. In this respect, salinity is a key factor influencing species distributions
and community structure in aquatic animals. Nevertheless, the effects of salinity on
reproductive behaviours are not well known. Here, we used the sand goby (Pomatoschistus
minutus), a small fish inhabiting a range of different salinities, to experimentally assess the
effects of changes in salinity on nesting behaviour, a key component of reproduction in sand …
environmental factors. In this respect, salinity is a key factor influencing species distributions
and community structure in aquatic animals. Nevertheless, the effects of salinity on
reproductive behaviours are not well known. Here, we used the sand goby (Pomatoschistus
minutus), a small fish inhabiting a range of different salinities, to experimentally assess the
effects of changes in salinity on nesting behaviour, a key component of reproduction in sand …
Background
Parental allocation and reproductive success are often strongly influenced by environmental factors. In this respect, salinity is a key factor influencing species distributions and community structure in aquatic animals. Nevertheless, the effects of salinity on reproductive behaviours are not well known. Here, we used the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus), a small fish inhabiting a range of different salinities, to experimentally assess the effects of changes in salinity on nesting behaviour, a key component of reproduction in sand gobies and many other taxa.
Results
We found that salinity levels influenced some aspects of male nesting behaviour (i.e. nest entrance size) but not others (i.e. latency to build a nest, choice of nest site, sand on top of nest) and that small and large individuals were differently affected. In particular, the importance of body size in adjustment of nest entrance depended on the salinity level.
Conclusion
The results support the prediction that geographically widespread aquatic species, such as sand gobies, are able to perform well under a range of salinity levels. The phenotype by environment interaction found between male size and behavioural responses to salinity can, in turn, help to explain the notable variation observed in nest-building (and other) behaviours closely linked to reproduction.
Springer
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