?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Social+organization+of%C2%A0+small+heterosexual+groups+of%C2%A0+Green+swordtails%C2%A0+(Xiphophorus+helleri%2C+Pisces%2C+Poeciliidae)+under++conditions+of+captivity&rft.creator=Beaugrand%2C+Jacques+P.&rft.creator=Caron%2C+Jean&rft.creator=Comeau%2C+Louise&rft.subject=Animal+Behavior&rft.subject=Behavioral+Biology&rft.subject=Ethology&rft.subject=Comparative+Psychology&rft.description=Sixteen+populations%2C+each+of+four+male+and+four+female+green+'swordtail+fish%2C+were+ob%C2%ADserved+in+54+litre+tanks+separated+into+two+unequal+volumes+by+a+partition+allowing+swim%C2%ADming+from+one+area+to+another+only+at+the+surface.+Each+population+was+observed+on+2+4+occasions%2C+making+a+combined+total+of+50+observation+periods+of+2+hours+each.+Chase+right+orders%2C+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%25+and+42%25+of+the+cases+respec%C2%ADtively.+Some+dominance+structures+are+incomplete%2C+but+no+intransitivity+is+noted.+Alpha+males+are+much+more+aggressive+than+their+isosexual+subordinates.+In+females%2C+the+fre%C2%ADquency+of+aggressive+behaviour+appears+to+be+more+proportional+to+the+social+rank+of+the+initiator%2C+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%25+of+all+sexual+activity+and+have+privilege+to+behaviour+leading+to+insemination+with+a+high+probability+in+85+%25+of+the+cases.+Females+are+not+courted+according+to+their+position+in+the+female+hierarchy%2C+nor+to+their+size.+In+the+two+compartment+situation+of+the+present+study%2C+which+allowed+spacing+out+and+visual+isolation+of+the+individuals%2C+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%2C+unaccompanied+by+any+females.+This+spacing+out+pat%C2%ADtern+emerged+with+neat+regularity+from+the+data+and+was+apparently+caused+and+main%C2%ADtained+by+aggressive+behaviour%2C+especially+by+charges%2C+initiated+by+the+alpha+male+toward+male+rivals.+However%2C+it+is+not+evident+that+the+behaviour+of+the+alpha+male+should+be+neatly+qualified+as+territorial+defence%2C+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+%22one+male+to+several+females%22+system+or+monar%C2%ADchistic+male+hierarchy%2C+in+which+one+male+becomes+very+dominant+over+the+others%2C+oc%C2%ADcupies+the+larger+area+and+is+also+the+sole+individual+to+court+the+females+and+to+attempt+in%C2%ADsemination+(haremic).+These+results+support+the+sociobiological+theorem+that+to+dominate+is+to+have+priority+of+access+to+the+necessities+of+life+and+reproduction.&rft.publisher=E.+Brill&rft.date=1984&rft.type=Journal+(Paginated)&rft.type=PeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F1970%2F3%2Fbeaugrand-caron-comeau-1984.pdf&rft.identifier=++Beaugrand%2C+Jacques+P.+and+Caron%2C+Jean+and+Comeau%2C+Louise++(1984)+Social+organization+of+small+heterosexual+groups+of+Green+swordtails+(Xiphophorus+helleri%2C+Pisces%2C+Poeciliidae)+under+conditions+of+captivity.++%5BJournal+(Paginated)%5D+++++&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Fcogprints.org%2F1970%2F