[Coral-List] Re: coral leks for cuttlefish
Charles Birkeland
charlesb at hawaii.edu
Tue Jun 22 11:01:23 EDT 2004
Ms. DeBose asked about cephalopod aggregation sites on coral reefs. A
most interesting arrangement on Guam (at least between January and May
in the late 1970s) was the apparent use of Lobophyllia hemprichii by
cuttlefish as leks. Male cuttlefish seem generally solitary but
aggregate in the reproductive season in areas where Lobophyllia
hemprichii is prevalent. A lek is a site attractive to females and
used by males for courtship (although technically defined as away from
nesting areas). It seems that the males station themselves over the
dead Lobophyllia hemprichii colonies because females are attracted to
dead L. hemprichii as sites for egg case deposition. The deep valleys
between corallites of this species of coral are just the right size
for the cuttlefish egg sacks. The females may be selecting the sites
and the lucky males that chose the best dead coral colonies for
attracting the females may be the ones to pass along their genes.
This is all described in detail with color photos of the various
postures and colors used in communication among the cuttlefish (with
interpretations) in
Corner, B.D., and H.T. More. 1980. Field observations on the
reproductive behavior of Sepaia latimanus. Micronesica 16: 235 - 260
Chuck
Message: 3
Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 16:25:24 -0700
From: Jennifer DeBose <jldebose at ucdavis.edu>
Dear Coral-List,
I am a graduate student at the University of California- Davis, in the
Animal Behavior Group. I study aggregation behavior in cephalopods
(specifically, squid and cuttlefish). Part of my research focuses on
the possible association of squid aggregations with coral reefs.
I am currently searching for comparative field research sites.
I would like to ask you all for any information (either published or
personal) about transient, or short-lived, squid or cuttlefish
aggregations over coral reefs. Does anyone have any experience with
this, or know of any sites I might be able to look into?
Please email me directly at jldebose at ucdavis.edu with any guidance you
might offer.
Thanks,
Jenn
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