Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Environmental determinants of butterflyfish social systems

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Synopsis

Butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae) display a variety of social systems, including monogamous pair-bonds, harems, and schooling with group spawning. The range of reproductive options available to butterflyfishes is shaped by their general life history characteristics, such as broadcast spawning with widely dispersed pelagic larvae, large body size and low adult mortality. The distribution and quality of food resources are major determinants of group size and mobility, thereby influencing the relative costs and benefits of available options, and determining specific social systems. Planktivorous and corallivorous butterflyfishes exemplify the relationship between food resources and social systems. Pelagic plankton is a patchy, but temporally and spatially unpredictable food resource which is efficiently exploited by fish in mobile schools. Neither sex is able to monopolize food resources necessary for the other sex, and plantivorous butterflyfishes appear constrained to spawn in groups. In contrast, corals are stable and predictable in space and time, favoring residence in one area and territorial defense of that space by coral-feeding butterflyfishes. Females defend food resources from other females, and males defend territories containing a female from other males. Males attempt to defend areas containing more than one female, but are unsuccessful. A monogamous social system results. This system favors the evolution of cooperative behavior between mates to increase female fecundity, as long as the male has an opportunity of sharing in that reproduction. Mate removal experiments conducted on two monogamous coral-feeding species,Chaetodon multicinctus andChaetodon quadrimaculatus reveal a division of labor between male and female pair-mates. Paired males assume most of the territorial defense activities, allowing their mates to feed more.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Allen, G.R. 1979. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Vol. 2. John Wiley, New York. 352 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagenal, T.B. 1966. The ecological and geographical aspects of the fecundity of plaice. J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K. 46: 743–751

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, G.W. 1974. Contrasts in social behavior between Central American cichlid fishes and coral-reef surgeon fishes. Amer. Zool. 14: 9–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, G.W. 1984. Patterns of monogamy among teleost fishes. Arch. FischWiss. 35: 75–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, G.W. 1986. A comparison of monogamy among freshwater and coral-reef fishes. pp. 767–775. In: T. Uyeno, R. Arai, T. Taniuchi & K. Matsuura (ed.) Indo-Pacific Fish Biology, Ichthyological Soc. Japan, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer, J.A., Jr. & S.E. Bauer. 1981. Reproductive biology of pigmy angelfishes of the genus Centropyge (Pomacanthidae). Bull. Mar. Sci. 31: 495–513

    Google Scholar 

  • Bouchon-Navaro, Y. & C. Bouchon. 1989. Correlations between chaetodontid fishes and coral communities of the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 47–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brett, J.R. & D.D. Groves. 1979. Physiological energetics. pp. 279–352. In: W.S. Hoar, D.J. Randall & J.R. Brett (ed.) Fish Physiology, Volume 7, Academic Press, New York

  • Brown, J.L. 1964. The evolution of diversity in avian territorial systems. Wilson Bull. 6: 160–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 832 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Charnov, E.L. & W.M. Schaffer. 1973. Life history consequences of natural selection: Cole's result revisited. Amer. Nat. 107: 791–793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colin, P.L. 1989. Aspects of the spawning of western Atlantic butterflyfishes (Pisces: Chaetodontidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 131–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doherty, P.J. 1983. Tropical territorial damselfishes: is density limited by aggression or recruitment? Ecology 64: 176–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll, J.W. & J.L. Driscoll. 1988. Pair behavior and spacing in butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 22: 29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrlich, P.R., F.H. Talbot, B.C. Russell & G.R.V. Anderson. 1977. The behavior of chaetodontid fishes with special reference to Lorenz's ‘poster coloration’ hypothesis. J. Zool. Lond. 183: 213–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Emlen, S.T. & L.W. Oring. 1977. Ecology, sexual selection and the evolution of mating systems. Science 197: 215–223

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke, H.W. 1980. Control of different mating systems in a coral reef fish by one environmental factor. Anim. Behav. 28: 561–569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke, H.W. 1986. Pair swimming and mutual partner guarding in monogamous butterflyfish (Pisces, Chaetodontidae): a joint advertisement of territory. Ethology 73: 307–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geist, V. 1974. On the relationship of social evolution and ecology in ungulates. Amer. Zool. 14: 205–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Gore, M.A. 1983. The effect of a flexible spacing system on the social organization of a coral reef fish, Chaetodon capistratus. Behaviour 85: 118–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Gosline, W.A. 1965. Thoughts on systematic works in outlying areas. Syst. Zool. 14: 59–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gronnell, A.M. 1984. Courtship, spawning and social organization of the pipefish, Corythoichthys intestinalis (Pisces: Sygnathidae) with notes on two congeneric species. Z. Tierpsychol. 65: 1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W.D. 1971. Geometry for the selfish herd. J. Theor. Biol. 31: 295–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirshfield, M.F. 1980. An experimental analysis of reproductive effort and cost in the Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes. Ecology 61: 282–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobson, E.S. 1974. Feeding relationships of the teleostean fishes on coral reefs in Kona, Hawaii. U.S. Fish. Bull. 72: 915–1031

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobson, E.S. 1978. Aggregating as a defense against predation in aquatic and terrestrial environments. pp. 219–234. In: E.S. Reese & F.S. Lighter (ed.) Contrasts in Behavior, John Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F. 1984a. The adaptive significance of pair bonding in reef fishes without parental care. Ethology Newsletters 18: 12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F. 1984b. Pair bond formation and monogamy in two species of Hawaiian butterflyfishes (Fam. Chaetodontidae). Pac. Sci. 38: 363

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F. 1986a. A comparison of haremic social systems in two reef fishes. pp. 23–28. In: L.C. Drickamer (ed.) Behavioral Ecology and Population Biology, Privat, I.E.C., Touluse

    Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F. 1986b. An experimental removal of a territorial pomacaetrid: effects on the occurrence and behavior of competitors. Env. Biol. Fish. 15: 161–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F. 1987. The behavioral ecology of three species of butterflyfishes, Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 496 pp

  • Hourigan, T.F. & C.D. Kelley, 1985. Histology of the gonads and observations on the social behavior of the Caribbean angelfish, Holacanthus tricolor. Mar. Biol. 88: 311–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F. & E.S. Reese. 1987. Mid-ocean isolation and the evolution of Hawaiian reef fishes. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2: 187–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hourigan, T.F., T.C. Tricas & E.S. Reese. 1988. Coral reef fishes as indicators of environmental stress in coral reefs. pp. 107–135. In: D.F. Soule & G. Kleppel (ed.) Marine Organisms as Indicators, Springer Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Irons, D.K. 1989. Temporal and areal feeding behavior of the butterflyfish, Chaetodon trifascialis, at Johnston Atoll. Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 187–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarman, P.J. 1974. The social organization of antelope in relation to their ecology. Behaviour 58: 215–267

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannes, R.E. 1978. Reproductive strategies of coastal marine fishes in the tropics. Env. Biol. Fish. 3: 65–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleiman, D.G. 1977. Monogamy in mammals. Quart. Rev. Biol. 52: 39–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knowlton, N. 1979. Reproductive synchrony, parental investment and the evolutionary dynamics of sexual selection. Anim. Behav. 27: 1023–1033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lack, D. 1968. Population Studies of Birds. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 341 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassig, B.R. 1977. Socioecological strategies adopted by obligate coral-dwelling fishes. Proc. 3rd. Internat. Coral Reef Symp. 1: 565–570

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobel, P.S. 1978. Diel, lunar, and seasonal periodicity in the reproductive behavior of the pomacanthid fish, Centropyge potteri, and some other reef fishes in Hawaii. Pac. Sci. 32: 193–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobel, P.S. 1989. Spawning behavior of Chaetodon multicinctus (Chaetodontidae); pairs and intruders. Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 125–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loiselle, P.V. & G.W. Barlow. 1978. Do fishes lek like birds? pp. 31–75. In: E.S. Reese & F.S. Lighter (ed.) Contrasts in Behavior, John Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, G.M. 1984. Contrasts in morphology and life history among Hawaiian populations of two longnose butterflyfishes, Forcipiger longirostris and F. flavissimus: a possible case of character displacement. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 284 pp

  • Luquet, P. & T. Watanabe. 1986. Interaction ‘nutrition-reproduction’ in fish. Fish Physiol. Biochem 2: 121–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Motta, P.J. 1985. Functional morphology of the head of Hawaiian and Mid-Pacific butterflyfishes (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 13: 253–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motta, P.J. 1988. Functional morphology of the feeding apparatus of ten species of Pacific butterflyfishes (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae): an ecomorphological approach. Env. Biol. Fish. 22: 39–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moyer, J.T. & A. Nakazono. 1978. Protandrous hermaphroditism in six species of the anemone fish genus Amphiprion in Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 25: 25–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Moyer, J.T. & Y. Yogo. 1982. The lek-like mating system of Halichoeres melanocher (Pisces: Labridae) at Miyake-Jima Japan. Z. Tierpsychol. 60: 209–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, G.I. 1968. Pattern in life history and the environment. Amer. Nat. 102: 390–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Neudecker, S. & P.S. Lobel. 1982. Mating systems of chaetodontid and pomacanthid fishes at St. Croix. Z. Tierpsychol. 59: 299–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris, J.E. 1985. Trophic relationships of piscivorous coral reef fishes from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, M.S. Thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 71 pp

  • Orians G.H. 1969. On the evolution of mating systems in birds and mammals. Amer. Nat. 103: 589–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oring, L.W. 1982. Avian mating systems. Avian Biol. 6: 1–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandian, T.J. & E. Vivekanadan. 1985. Energetics of feeding and digestion. pp. 99–124. In: P. Tytler & P. Calou (ed.) Fish Energetics: New Perspectives, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Pitcher, T.J. 1986. Functions of shoaling behaviour in teleosts. pp. 294–337. In: T.J. Pitcher (ed.) The Behaviour of Teleost Fishes, Croom Helm, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, S. 1976. Anomalous growth and reproductive patterns in populations of Chaetodon miliaris (Pisces: Chaetodontidae) from Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiian Islands. Pac. Sci. 30; 395–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Ralston, S. 1981. Aspects of the reproductive biology and feeding ecology of Chaetodon miliaris, a Hawaiian endemic butterflyfish. Env. Biol. Fish. 6: 167–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reese, E.S. 1973. Duration of residence of coral reef fishes on ‘home’ reefs. Copeia 1973: 145–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reese, E.S. 1975. A comparative field study of the social behavior and related ecology of reef fishes of the family Chaetodontidae. Z. Tierpsychol. 37: 37–61

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reese, E.S. 1978. The study of space related behavior in aquatic animals: special problems and selected examples. pp. 347–374. In: E.S. Reese & F.S. Lighter (ed.) Contrasts in Behavior, John Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Reese, E.S. 1981. Predation on corals by fishes of the family Chaetodontidae: Implications for conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems. Bull. Mar. Sci. 31: 594–604

    Google Scholar 

  • Reese, E.S. 1989. Orientation behavior of butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae) on coral reefs: spatial learning of route specific landmarks and cognitive maps. Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 79–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D.R. 1983. On the spawning behavior and spawning cycles of eight surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) from the Indo-Pacific. Env. Biol. Fish. 9: 193–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D.R. & S.G. Hoffman. 1977. The roles of female mate choice and predation in the mating systems of some tropical labroid fishes. Z. Tierpsychol. 45: 298–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D.R., N.V.C. Polunin & K. Leighton. 1979. The behavioral ecology of three Indian Ocean surgeonfishes (Acanthurus lineatus, A. leucosternon and Zebrasoma scopas): their feeding strategies and social and mating systems. Env. Biol. Fish. 4: 125–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, D.R. & J.M. Sheldon. 1979. Competition and the availability of sleeping sites for a diurnally active Caribbean reef fish. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 40: 285–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sale, P.F. 1980. The ecology of fishes on coral reefs. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev. 18: 367–421

    Google Scholar 

  • Shulman, M.J. 1985. Coral reef fish assemblages: intra- and interspecific competition for shelter sites. Env. Biol. Fish. 13: 81–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steen, R.C. 1978. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Volume 1. John Wiley, New York. 352 pp

  • Strathmann, R.R. 1986. What controls the type of larval development? Bull. Mar. Sci. 39: 612–622

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, M. 1985. Patterns of spacing in a coral reef fish in two habitats on the Great Barrier Reef. Anim. Behav. 33: 1322–1337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, K., Y. Tanaka & S. Hioki. 1980. Spawning behavior, eggs, and larvae of the butterflyfish, Chaetodon nippon, in an aquarium. Jap. J. Ichthyol. 26: 334–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Talbot F.H., B.C. Russel & G.R.V. Anderson. 1978. Coral reef fish communities: unstable, high-diversity systems? Ecol. Monogr. 48: 425–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thresher, R.E. 1977. Ecological determinants of the territorial behavior of reef fishes. Proc. 3rd. Internat. Coral Reef Symp. 1: 551–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Thresher, R.E. 1984. Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 399 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Tricas, T.C. 1985. The economics of foraging in coral-feeding butterflyfishes of Hawaii. Proc. 5th. Internat. Coral Reef Symp. 5: 409–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Tricas, T.C. 1986. Life history, foraging ecology, and territorial behavior of the Hawaiian butterflyfish Chaetodon multicinctus. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 248 pp

  • Walsh, W.J. 1984. Aspects of nocturnal shelter, habitat space, and juvenile recruitment in Hawaiian coral reef fishes. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 475 pp

  • Warner, R.R. 1980. The coevolution of behavioral and life-history characteristics. pp. 151–188. In: G.W. Barlow & J. Silverberg (ed.) Sociobiology: Beyond Nature/Nurture, Westview Press, Boulder

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, R. & D.R. Robertson. 1978. Sexual patterns in the labroid fishes of the western Caribbean, I. The wrasses (Labridae). Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 254: 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Wickler W. & U. Seibt. 1983. Monogamy, an ambiguous concept. pp. 33–50. In: P. Bateson (ed.) Mate Choice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G.C. 1966. Adaptation and natural selection. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 304 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, E.O. 1975. Sociobiology: the new synthesis. Belknap-Harvard Press, Cambridge. 697 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittenberger, J.F. & R.L. Tilson. 1980. The evolution of monogamy: hypotheses and tests. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11: 197–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wootton, R.J. 1977. Effect of food limitation during the breeding season, on the size, body components and egg production of female sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). J. Anim. Ecol. 46: 823–834

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wootton, R.J. 1985. Energetics of reproduction. pp. 231–254. In: P. Tytler & P. Calow (ed.) Fish Energetics: New Perspectives, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrangham, R.W. & D.I. Rubenstein. 1986. Social evolution in birds and mammals. pp. 452–470. In: R.W. Wrangham & D.I. Rubenstein (ed.) Ecological Aspects of Social Evolution, Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamsonrat, S. 1980. Sex determination of butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae). M.S. Thesis, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 15 pp

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Thomas F. Hourigan

    Present address: Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka, Myodaijicho, Okazaki, 444, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, 96822, U.S.A.

    Thomas F. Hourigan

Authors
  1. Thomas F. Hourigan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hourigan, T.F. Environmental determinants of butterflyfish social systems. Environ Biol Fish 25, 61–78 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002201

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002201

Key words

Search

Navigation