New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Investigating anti-predator behaviour in three genetically differentiated populations of non-migratory galaxiid fishes in a New Zealand river

KERRI-ANNE EDGE COLIN R.TOWNSEND

Department of Zoology University of Otago P. O. Box 56 Dunedin, New Zealand

TODD A. CROWL

Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and
the Ecology Center
Utah State University
Logan, Utah 84322-5210, U.S.A.

Abstract Galaxias vulgaris Stokell, which has until now been considered a single widespread freshwater fish species, may comprise several species. Comparative ethological investigations can contribute to determining taxonomic relationships; this laboratory study compares the anti-predator behaviour of Galaxias in the presence of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.). The response of three distinct genetic types (A, B, and C) to trout differed: Type A Galaxias exhibited more inactive behaviour (increasing the frequency of the cryptic "flat on the substrate" posture: FS) during the day but not the night. Type B Galaxias showed no significant effect of trout on the proportion of its behaviour that was inactive, either during the day or night, but the relative frequency of cryptic FS postures increased at both times. Type C Galaxias exhibited more active behaviour both during the day and the night. Nevertheless, the relative frequency of cryptic FS postures was greater during the day (but not the night). The proportions of fish feeding were reduced for all three types, but least marked for Type C. Feeding rate was reduced during both day and night for Types A and B, but not for Type C. These findings support the hypothesis that the three types are different species, but further critical evaluation is required.

Keywords Galaxias vulgaris; brown trout; anti-predator behaviour; New Zealand

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1993: Vol. 27: The Royal Society of New Zealand 1993
Received 18 January 1993; acepted 3 May 1993

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (623K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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