Parental male and female convict cichlids assess and respond to threats differently depending on intruder species

Abstract

In this field experiment, we presented pairs of monogamous convict cichlids with different intruders (conspecific and either cichlid or non-cichlid heterospecific) and observed the aggressive behavior of the pair to determine if pairs adjust aggression based upon species of intruder. We predicted that pairs would be more aggressive to conspecifics as these intruders represent multiple threats. The overall pair aggression was significantly higher to the conspecific intruder than to either heterospecific intruder. We also predicted that within pairs, the sexes might differ in how they assessed the risk represented by the intruders and might respond differently. Indeed, females were significantly more aggressive to the conspecific than to either heterospecific whereas males were more aggressive to the conspecific only compared to the non-cichlid heterospecific. These results suggest parental convict cichlids differently assess the risk posed by an intruder and then adjust aggression to different species of intruder. It also supports that the aggressive roles within a pair are flexible and that males and females modulate their behavior differently in response to different species of intruders perhaps based on differences in risk assessment.