Nest site characteristics and male reproductive success in the upland bully, Gobiomorphus breviceps (Eleotridae)

The characteristics of male upland bullies (Gobiomorphus breviceps) and their nest sites were examined in two New Zealand streams as possible determinants of male reproductive success. There was no association between male size, nest site characteristics (depth, distance to shore, river velocity, nest rock size), and male reproductive success. Similarly, the male's parasite load had no detectable influence on reproductive success. Multiple regression analysis revealed that no combination of factors could explain the wide variation in male reproductive success, It may be that the unpredictable nature of the stream habitats of bullies has favored reduced choosiness in females, which could lead to an absence of correlations between male and nest characteristics and reproductive success.