Studies on behavioural ecology of territorial fishes
Fish constitute a group particularly interesting for the study of intra-specific variations of reproductive strategies, given their behavioural and physiological ability and the high diversity of ecological niches to which species are adapted. The accessibility and easy manipulation of littoral species, with complex social structures, namely the existence of parental care, makes these fishes specially valuable for the study of the causalities of behaviour. The theoretical models concerning the evolution of parental care in fish and the complex forms of parasitic and co-operative behaviour, make necessary interdisciplinary approaches of behavioural ecology with support of genetic work. Behavioural ecology of teleost fish has been developing in Portugal, first in an ethological basis, later in a more experimental approach. These studies led to publications on international leading journals. It is important that these lines of research will be continued and that inter-disciplinarily will be extended to genetics. This line of research intends to make the bridge between behavioural ecology and genetics. This research is now supported by the following projects: JNICT - PBCIT/BIA/2055/95: PATER - Paternity and alopaternity in territorial fishes: behavioural and genetic studies and PRAXIS XXI - PCNA/C/BIA/94/96: Neuro-ethology and behavioural endocrinology of the polymorphic male sexual behaviour of the rock-pool Azorean blenny Parablennius sanguinolentus parvicornis (Pisces: Blenniidae). Relevant references (after 1994):
1) Almada, V. C. & R. S. Santos 1995. Parental care in the rocky intertidal: a case study of adaptation and exaptation in Mediterranean and Atlantic blennies. Rev. Fish Biol. and Fish., 5: 23-37.
2) Santos, R. S., R. D. M. Nash & S. J. Hawkins 1995. Age, growth and sex ratio of the Azorean rock-pool blenny, Parablennius sanguinolentus parvicornis. J. mar. Biol. Assoc., U. K., 75 (3): 751-754.
3) Santos, R. S. 1995. Allopaternal care in the redlip blenny. J. Fish Biol., 47: 350-353.
4) Santos, R. S. 1995. Anatomy and histology of secondary sexual characters, gonads and liver of the rock-pool blenny (Parablennius sanguinolentus parvicornis) of the Azores. Arquipélago, Life and Mar. Sci., 13A: 21-38.
5 ) Santos, R. S. & R. D. M. Nash 1996. Seasonal variations in injuries
suffered by individuals of the Azorean rock-pool blenny, Parablennius
sanguinolentus parvicornis. Copeia, 1996 (1): 216-219.
6) Santos, R. S., S. J. Hawkins & R. D. M. Nash 1996. Reproductive
phenology of the Azorean rock-pool blenny (Parablennius sanguinolentus
parvicornis), a fish with alternative mating tactics. J. Fish Biol.,
48 (5): 842-858.
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