An insight into the reproductive biology of the bearded goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus

• Published in: Journal of fish biology Vol. 82; no. 2; pp. 725 - 731
• Main Authors: Utne-Palm, A. C., Locatello, L., Mayer, I., Gibbons, M. J., Rasotto, M. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2013; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Africa; Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Atlantic Ocean; Benguela ecosystem; Biological and medical sciences; Biology; Fertility; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Genitalia, Male - anatomy & histology; Genitalia, Male - cytology; habitat adaptation; hypoxia; Male; Perciformes - anatomy & histology; Perciformes - physiology; Reproduction - physiology; reproductive behaviour; Sexual Behavior, Animal - physiology; sperm duct glands; Sufflogobius bibarbatus; Synecology; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Atlantic Ocean; Africa; Namibia; sperm duct glands; Oxygen; Spermatozoa; habitat adaptation; Gland; I; Biology; Breeding behavior; Benguela ecosystem; Vertebrata; Reproduction; Gobiidae; Ecosystem; Pisces; Hypoxia; Habitat; reproductive behaviour; Adaptation
• ISSN: 0022-1112; 1095-8649
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12019

Preliminary results obtained from histological analyses of the male reproductive organs, supplemented with field and behavioural data, indicate that Sufflogobius bibarbatus, a small, slow growing gobiid exhibiting low fecundity, which plays an important role in the food web off Namibia, where large areas of the shelf are hypoxic, spawns demersally. Large males defend benthic nests, possibly at the edge of the hypoxic shelf. Male reproductive strategy appears to be flexible, and tentative evidence to suggest that polygyny and sneaking may also occur is presented.