Seasonal pattern of filial cannibalism by Apogon doederleini mouthbrooding males

Abstract

In temperate waters of southern Japan, mouthbrooding males of the cardinal fish Apogon doederleini sometimes ate their entire brood within a day of spawning. In spite of annual variation in age structure and length of the breeding season, however, the annual cannibalism rate (broods cannibalized to total broods spawned) was nearly constant, 12–16%. Fish 1 year old frequently cannibalized early broods of the season, especially the first brood, whereas the cannibalism rate by 2 year‐old fish did not vary within the season. In contrast, the cannibalism by older males increased late in the season. This tendency was attributed to their different allocation patterns to growth and reproduction. For 1 year‐old fish, which can enhance future reproductive success by growth and cannibalizing on early broods instead of mouthbrooding (at relatively low temperatures), this may be a tactic for investing energy in growth. For fish 3 years, which have more breeding cycles and grow little, cannibalizing late broods may be energetic compensation for their poor somatic condition. No seasonal variation of cannibalism by 2 year‐old fish can be explained by their intermediate nature of growth and reproduction. Multiple mate availability is one factor facilitating the cannibalism by 2 and 3 + year‐old fish whose operational sex ratio is female‐biased.