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Mating behaviour by the haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)

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Abstract

This study examines the full repertoire of haddock reproductive behaviour, monitored in an aquarium for 3 months over each of two successive spawning seasons. Observations showed that male haddock were territorial and that visits to their territories by females triggered courtship behaviour, leading to spawning. Entry of females to the territories was induced by an acoustic and visual self-advertisement of displaying males, termed patrolling behaviour, exhibited for many hours each night for several months. The existence of sneaking behaviour by non-territorial males was observed for the first time for haddock and was supported by genetic data. Overall our observations are consistent with the behaviour expected from lekking species, as in the cod, a closely related species. Lekking is said to occur when non–resource-based aggregations of males are visited by females for the purpose of mating. Implications for the management of fish stocks are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The behavioural observations were carried out at the Fisheries Research Services Marine Laboratory. Aberdeen, Scotland with funding from the Scottish Executive. The laboratory is now part of Marine Scotland Science, a division of Marine Scotland (a Scottish Government directorate). We thank Ben Williamson for help with the provision of aquarium facilities and other colleagues at the Marine Laboratory who assisted with the experiments. The authors confirm that this research was conducted with the approval of a relevant animal care or ethics committee.

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Author notes

  1. Marta Picciulin

    Present address: via Alviano 18, Gorizia, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB9 IAS, UK

    Licia Casaretto

  2. University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy

    Marta Picciulin

  3. FRS Marine Laboratory, Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK

    Anthony D. Hawkins

Authors
  1. Licia Casaretto
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  2. Marta Picciulin
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  3. Anthony D. Hawkins
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Correspondence to Marta Picciulin.

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Casaretto, L., Picciulin, M. & Hawkins, A.D. Mating behaviour by the haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus). Environ Biol Fish 98, 913–923 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0327-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0327-7

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