Sexual selection and territory size in male cunners Tautogolabrus adspersus, in Conception Bay, Newfoundland

• Main Author: Martel, Guy
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1982
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/7820/; https://research.library.mun.ca/7820/1/Martel_Guy.pdf; https://research.library.mun.ca/7820/3/Martel_Guy.pdf

The occurrence of sexual selection was investigated in the cunner, Tautogolabrus adspersus (Walbaum), in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. Field observations show that the number of spawns was different between territorial males and, consequently, that sexual selection occurs among those males. Correlations between spawning success and physical and behavioural characteristics of territorial males indicate that the females tend to base their choice on male’s characteristics rather than on those of the territories. -- However, the ultimate goal of territoriality appears to be related to reproduction and, since territorial males spend most of their active time on their territories, a proximate goal is maintenance. Differences exist between sizes of males territories, and factors which could affect the size of those territories were investigated. Geophysical differences (influencing the defendability of territories) and food quantity and distribution inside territories are responsible for most of the variation between territory sizes. The occurrence of a previously undescribed type of behaviour in the cunner, termed ‘peregrination’, is described.