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Social organization of  small heterosexual groups of  Green swordtails  (Xiphophorus helleri, Pisces, Poeciliidae) under conditions of captivity

Beaugrand, Jacques P. and Caron, Jean and Comeau, Louise (1984) Social organization of  small heterosexual groups of  Green swordtails  (Xiphophorus helleri, Pisces, Poeciliidae) under conditions of captivity. [Journal (Paginated)]

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Abstract

Sixteen populations, each of four male and four female green 'swordtail fish, were ob­served in 54 litre tanks separated into two unequal volumes by a partition allowing swim­ming from one area to another only at the surface. Each population was observed on 2 4 occasions, making a combined total of 50 observation periods of 2 hours each. Chase right orders, spatial positions as well as several agonistic and epigamic behaviour units were noted during each period of observation. Males and females apparently form distinct hierarchies which are perfectly linear and transitive in 68% and 42% of the cases respec­tively. Some dominance structures are incomplete, but no intransitivity is noted. Alpha males are much more aggressive than their isosexual subordinates. In females, the fre­quency of aggressive behaviour appears to be more proportional to the social rank of the initiator, but the number of chases received from other females is the best indicator of rank in the female hierarchies. Alpha males are responsible for 80% of all sexual activity and have privilege to behaviour leading to insemination with a high probability in 85 % of the cases. Females are not courted according to their position in the female hierarchy, nor to their size. In the two compartment situation of the present study, which allowed spacing out and visual isolation of the individuals, the alpha males occupied the larger area of the aquarium in the company of the four females while the three subordinate males were restricted to the smaller area, unaccompanied by any females. This spacing out pat­tern emerged with neat regularity from the data and was apparently caused and main­tained by aggressive behaviour, especially by charges, initiated by the alpha male toward male rivals. However, it is not evident that the behaviour of the alpha male should be neatly qualified as territorial defence, since specific area linked dominance was never realized in the present study. The social scheme most readily applicable to the present social and spatial organization is the "one male to several females" system or monar­chistic male hierarchy, in which one male becomes very dominant over the others, oc­cupies the larger area and is also the sole individual to court the females and to attempt in­semination (haremic). These results support the sociobiological theorem that to dominate is to have priority of access to the necessities of life and reproduction.

Item Type:Journal (Paginated)
Keywords:social organization, Xiphophorus helleri, dominance, space use, harem
Subjects:Biology > Animal Behavior
Biology > Behavioral Biology
Biology > Ethology
Psychology > Comparative Psychology
ID Code:1970
Deposited By: Beaugrand, Jacques
Deposited On:08 Dec 2001
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:54

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