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The Biological Bulletin, Vol 181, Issue 2 232-237, Copyright © 1991 by Marine Biological Laboratory

DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION

Variation in Fertilization Rate in the Tropical Reef Fish, Halichoeres bivattatus: Correlates and Implications

C. W. Petersen
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Box 2072, Balboa, Panama

Fertilization rates were estimated for natural spawns in the tropical wrasse, Halichoeres bivattatus. Fertilization rate averaged 88%, but varied with both sea conditions and with the addition of males (streakers) to pair spawns. As sea conditions became rougher, the mean fertilization rate for a day decreased. This effect was due to the two days with the roughest sea conditions and the lowest mean fertilization rates; there was no obvious trend when these two days were excluded from the analysis. On a given day, pair spawns, with a single male and female, had fertilization rates approximately 7% lower than spawns where 1-2 streakers joined the pair spawn. These results suggest that variation in fertilization rate must be considered as a potential selective force in shaping reproductive behavior in fishes with external fertilization of pelagic eggs.




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Copyright © 1991 by the Marine Biological Laboratory.