A comparative analysis of the behavioural ecology, agonistic behaviour and sound production in two species of inshore eastern Pacific rockfish (genus Sebastes)

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dc.contributor.authorFletcher, Val Edwarden_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-13T22:22:45Z
dc.date.available2024-08-13T22:22:45Z
dc.date.copyright1981en_US
dc.date.issued1981
dc.degree.departmentDepartment of Biology
dc.degree.levelMaster of Science M.Sc.en
dc.description.abstractThe relationship between ecology and social organization was examined in two species of rockfish inhabiting a shallow, semi-exposed rock reef on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The distribution and social behaviour of a schooling species, the black rockfish (Sebastes melanops) was compared to that of a benthic, solitary dweller, the china rockfish (S. nebulosus). Survey data were collected during a series of observational SCUBA dives on the study reef in which the position of tagged fish relative to reef markers was recorded. Laboratory studies involved a comparative analyses (between species) of agonistic behaviour and associated sound production. Behavioural and sound data were recorded during conspecific, pairwise, aggressive encounters. Black rockfish primarily form egalitarian, non-polarized schools that show a certain degree of site attachment to particular regions of the reef. In contrast, china rockfish are exclusively solitary crevice dwellers, showing strong site attachment to a particular spot or home site on the reef. Limited evidence suggests they are territorial defending the home site and immediate area against conspecific intruders. Black rockfish exhibit a greater tendency towards threat displays and intention movements during agonistic encounters than china rockfish. Multivariate statistical techniques applied to behavioural sequence data indicate that agonistic behaviour of both species can be adequately described as the relative strengths of two independent tendencies, attack and escape. Sounds associated with various aggressive activities probably function to inhibit aggressive tendencies in the recipient fish, An analysis of selected temporal parameters of agonistic sounds indicate they are not likely to code for species specificity, Sound characteristics are rather variable and appear related to the level of motivation of the animal.en_US
dc.format.extent212 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/17785
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleA comparative analysis of the behavioural ecology, agonistic behaviour and sound production in two species of inshore eastern Pacific rockfish (genus Sebastes)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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