Agonistic behaviour of age 0, age 1 and non‐breeding adult Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus (Pallas)

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Kratt, L. F., Smith, R. J. F.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1979
• Subjects: Arctic; Arctic grayling; Thymallus arcticus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1979.tb03622.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.1979.tb03622.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1979.tb03622.x

Age 0 Arctic grayling begin to show agonistic behaviour 3 weeks after emergence and are territorial by their fourth week. Age 1 fish are territorial throughout the summer feeding period. In adults, territoriality is restricted to larger males during the early spring breeding season while after the breeding season both smaller adult males and adult females also hold territories. In sub‐adults, larger fish and resident fish tend to win most fights. In adults, males usually win against females. In fights between adults of the same sex, larger and resident fish usually win. The lateral display becomes more important in the agonistic repertoire of Arctic grayling as they mature and the characteristic large dorsal fin develops. Arctic grayling appear to lack an appeasement display.