Spawning behaviour and acoustic communication in Atlantic cod

• Published in: Journal of Fish Biology
• Main Authors: Rowe, S., Hutchings, J. A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2003
• Subjects: atlantic cod
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.216af.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1095-8649.2003.216af.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.216af.x

Mating systems are defined by the pattern of matings among individuals in a population, including the number of mates obtained by each female and male, and the duration of pair bonds. Within all mating systems, mate choice, intra‐sexual competition, and sperm competition may lead to variation in mating success among individuals. Growing evidence indicates that quantification of the patterns and processes of mating may be critical to understanding population dynamics. Atlantic cod had been fished for hundreds of years and was one of the most important commercial fish species worldwide until the recent collapse of many populations. Despite being of theoretical interest and practical importance, little was known about this species’ reproductive behaviour. Our research employed a quantitative approach to understand causes and consequences of variation in the mating system of Atlantic cod at the individual and population levels. We incorporated both detailed behavioural studies in the laboratory and observations of cod captured in the commercial fishery. Preliminary observations indicate tremendous variation in reproductive behaviour and mating success both within and between populations. Furthermore, variation in reproductive behaviour and mating success appears to be related to the ability of males to produce sound. Knowledge of Atlantic cod spawning behaviour will likely contribute to better understanding of population dynamics and improved ability to predict the impact of fishing on cod populations.