Female defense polygyny in the territorial triggerfish Sufflamen chrysopterum

摘要: The occurrence of polygyny requires specific environmental conditions such as female aggregation or patchy resource distribution. However, it is difficult to determine the factors responsible for in species which territories both sexes overlap. To overcome this, we performed removal experiments polygynous triggerfish Sufflamen chrysopterum (Balistidae) Okinawa coral reef. Both defended their exclusively against consexuals same species, and was absent. Each male territory included 1–3 territories, nonterritorial males were significantly smaller than territorial males. Further, body size positively correlated with that largest larger tended mate more females. results (n = 10 females) indicated females competed better rather mates. In contrast, abandoned once emigrated. These strongly suggest defend sites compete a greater numbers Thus, S. chrysopterum, defense occurs absence aggregation.