The Agonistic and Reproductive Behaviors of the Gulf Killifish, Fundulus grandis and Their Physiological Components.

The behavioral repertoire of Fundulus grandis includes 32 acts, 5 of which are found only in the male. The acts are described and categorized by function.Male-male and male-female pairs were observed for agonistic and reproductive behaviors, diel rhythms of behavior, endogenous hormone levels (testosterone for males; estrogens for females), and male coloration frequencies.In male-male pairs, dominance was quickly established and was not reversed. The dominant male often used homosexual behavior in addition to dominant agonistic acts to express dominance. Coloration frequencies were significantly higher in the dominant male. Testosterone levels were positively associated with degree of dominant agonistic behavior. Additionally, the subordinate male had approximately 60% of the testosterone level of his dominant counterpart. These data suggest that testosterone may effect the stability of the dominant-subordinate relation- ship in male F. grandis.In male-female pairs, agonistic behavior was used to express sexual unreceptive behavior in both sexes. Dominant-subordinate relationships were more flexible than in male-male pairs. Endogenous levels of estrogens were positively associated with female unreceptive behavior not with reproductive behavior. Endogenous testosterone levels of males in male-female pairs were not associated with male unreceptive behavior or reproductive behavior. A diel rhythm of combined male-female unreceptivity was present and was out of phase with a diel rhythm found in male reproductive behavior. These data indicate that diel rhythms of testosterone and estrogens may synchronize or at least influence behavioral rhythms of unreceptive and courtship sexual behavior in both sexes of F. grandis.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Year

1981

Author dc:creator

• Pagel, Patricia Lee McKee

• Fundulus grandis
• Male coloration frequencies
• Male-female pairs
• Reproductive behaviors

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7092

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.library.uab.edu:etd-collection-8084