Burgueses parasitas: pirataria de corte como uma tática reprodutiva alternativa em um peixe neotropical

Abstract

Reproductive success is achieved through energetically costly processes. Males of many species exhibit multiple mating behaviors, some of them exploiting the efforts of other males. Such parasitic tactics are often performed by males of low competitive abilities, which exploits the courtship, territorial or parental effort of other males. Here we studied the fish species (Crenuchus spilurus) and we suggest an alternative reproductive tactic (ART) in which males of high competitive ability exploit the courtship behavior of subordinate males. We show that smaller males invest more in courtship behavior and that larger males primarily invest in spawning site defense. Large males adopt a sit-and-wait tactic, with competitive inferior males exerting courtship behavior and guiding females to spawning sites dominated by them. Larger males had a higher spawning success regardless of the amount invested in courtship behavior. Smaller males started agonistic interactions and refrained from courting when winner/loser status was reached through aggression. Investment in spawning site monopolization was not context-dependent, with an apparent progressive increase in the sit-and-wait tactic being implemented as males grow. We suggest and ART that is exerted by bourgeois males which, in exploiting courtship behavior or other males, act as parasites. We named this tactic as courtship piracy.