Convict Cichlids Benefit From Close Proximity To Another Species Of Cichlid Fish

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 21 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Most studies reporting positive species interactions have focused on plants and sessile animals or have not been able to translate the hypothesised benefits into actual fitness gains.

Here, I demonstrate that brood survival of a fish, the convict cichlid, is higher when it has a Nicaragua cichlid territory in its close proximity than when it does not.

In other words, reproductive success of one cichlid species is facilitated by the presence of another.

The results may partly explain the immense success of the convict cichlid as an invasive species following introductions to new water bodies.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

Biology Letters publishes short, innovative and cutting-edge research articles and opinion pieces accessible to scientists from across the biological sciences. The journal is characterised by stringent peer-review, rapid publication and broad dissemination of succinct high-quality research communications.

Biology Letters