Phenotypic Plasticity in the Reproductive Behavior of Female Sand Tilefish, Malacanthus plumieri

摘要: Female sand tilefish (Malacanthus plumieri) inhabiting a deep channel in the fringing reef at Glover's Atoll, Belize (channel females) spawned planktonic eggs more frequently than those occupying shallow sand-rubble slopes adjacent to patch coral reefs inside atoll lagoon (reef-slope females). We tested five non-exclusive hypotheses explain habitat differences female spawning frequency. found no evidence that frequency variation was consequence of food availability, male fertility, or intensity predation on eggs. On slopes, barracuda stalked near their benthic burrows, whereas these piscivores attacked by diving suddenly from higher water column. Differences hunting behavior suggested females might be influenced temporal risk (risk allocation hypothesis). Consistent with this hypothesis, reef-slope had much retreats burrows response barracuda, spent time burrowing and ventured less far refugia simulated predatory threat. As predicted also lower variable frequencies foraging bites, shorter travel distances forage females. Estimated mortality over nine times tilefish. hypothesis investment current vs. future reproduction is rates adult (mortality hypothesis), invested supplemental energy egg production growth. Our results indicate behavioral life-history traits show phenotypic plasticity depending upon nature localized risk.