Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 87, Issue 02  


Why does the mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris form territories in farming ponds?

Shixi  Chen a1a2, Wanshu  Hong a1a2c1, Qiyong  Zhang a2 and Yongquan  Su a1a2
a1 State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, PR China
a2 Department of Oceanography, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, PR China

Article author query
chen s   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
hong w   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
zhang q   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
su y   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

The mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris maintained territories in farming ponds during the cold season between November and February. There were two types of territory, one was surrounded by mud-walls, and the other was without mud-walls. Both types of territory were entirely covered by shallow water. The area of walled territories was significantly bigger than that of non-walled ones. The nearest neighbour distance of walled territories was significantly shorter than that of non-walled territories. In January, fish surface activity occurred between 1200 and 1500 hours at which time the territorial water temperature reached a maximum, being significantly higher than that of the air, mud surface or deep burrow. The territorial sediments exhibited a significantly greater benthic microalgal biomass (chlorophyll-a and total chlorophyll-a) as compared to the non-territorial sediments. The present study indicates that B. pectinirostris forms a territory during the cold season to keep a pool of water that encourages diatom growth and enables the fish to engage in surface activity.

(Published Online April 4 2007)
(Received May 22 2006)
(Accepted November 13 2006)


Correspondence:
c1 Corresponding author, e-mail: wshong@xmu.edu.cn