The First Ever Captive Spawn of Amphiprion latifasciatus; Here, The Male Madagascar Anemonefish Guards His Eggs

DeAngelis, Ross

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Description

Title

The First Ever Captive Spawn of Amphiprion latifasciatus; Here, The Male Madagascar Anemonefish Guards His Eggs

Author(s)

DeAngelis, Ross

Issue Date

2015-04

Keyword(s)

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology

Abstract

Many vertebrates require parental care for offspring survival; in most groups, females are the predominant caregivers, and maternal care has been extensively studied. However, some species rely primarily on male parental care (paternal), and the proximate mechanisms of paternal care are poorly understood. One limitation in studying paternal behavior has been the co-occurrence of other factors affecting physiological states, such as mating and territory defense, making it difficult to disentangle the associated neuroendocrine pathways involved. Animal models where reproductive events and paternal behavior occur independently are needed to extricate the underlying mechanisms, specifically for the role of neuropeptides and sex steroid hormones. Anemonefish are spatially restricted to the confines of protective host anemones; this peculiar life history has made the group monogamous, female dominant, and highly reliant on paternal care. Pair bonds are formed long before mating occurs and can last decades. Thus, the temporal isolation of mating, reproduction, and parental care allow insight into each event in exclusivity. Anemonefish are also the only known teleost group, and one of very few vertebrates, in which naturally occurring step-fathering occurs. This adoptive behavior provides the opportunity to utilize cross-fostering experiments, a unique aspect of the anemonefish system.

Type of Resource

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Copyright 2015 Ross DeAngelis

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