Reproductive Suppression In Female Cooperatively Breeding Cichlids

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 28 Aug 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The Lake Tanganyika cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher lives in cooperative breeding groups of a dominant breeder pair and several smaller-sized subordinates of both sexes. Here I show that subordinate females are reproductively suppressed due to the presence of the dominant female. If the dominant female is removed, the next largest female quickly seizes the dominant position and increases her reproductive output. Female subordinate cichlids are reproductively capable, but apparently suppressed with respect to egg laying. Nevertheless, some reproduction is tolerated by the dominant female, possibly to ensure continued alloparental care by the subordinate females.

Royal Society journal Biology Letters

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Biology Letters