ANDROGEN CONTROL OF SOCIAL-STATUS IN MALES OF A WILD POPULATION OF STOPLIGHT PARROTFISH, SPARISOMA-VIRIDE (SCARIDAE)

被引:116
作者
CARDWELL, JR [1 ]
LILEY, NR [1 ]
机构
[1] UNIV BRITISH COLUMBIA,DEPT ZOOL,VANCOUVER V6T 2A9,BC,CANADA
基金
加拿大自然科学与工程研究理事会;
关键词
D O I
10.1016/0018-506X(91)90035-G
中图分类号
B84 [心理学]; C [社会科学总论]; Q98 [人类学];
学科分类号
03 ; 0303 ; 030303 ; 04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
In the protogynous stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride), large males defend territories that encompass the home-ranges of several mature females. However, high-quality habitat is in short supply, such that smaller, competitively inferior males do not defend territories. We investigated the role of 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and testosterone (T) in the regulation of territorial behavior in a wild population of a protogynous reef fish, the stoplight parrotfish, at Glover's Reef, Belize. Radioimmunoassay of plasma samples from individuals of known social status revealed that nonterritorial males have lower levels of T and 11KT than territorial males. Nonterritorial males allowed access to vacant territories underwent pronounced increases in T and 11KT. When sampled 1 week after territory acquisition, levels of T and 11KT in new territorial males were significantly higher than the levels in established territorial males, but by 3 weeks after territory acquisition, there was no significant difference. We further investigated the hypothesis that such short-term increases in androgen levels are a response to intense male-male interactions during territory establishment. Simulated territorial intrusion promoted increased plasma levels of both T and 11KT while access to vacant territories without neighboring territorial males did not. These findings suggest that the endocrine system plays a role in fine-tuning the levels of territorial aggression exhibited by male stoplight parrotfish. We discuss these results in light of recent theory in behavioral endocrinology. © 1991.
引用
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页码:1 / 18
页数:18
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