The long and short of it: travel distance and territorial intruder pressure predict central-place spawning tactics among Caribbean Stegastes damselfishes.

ABSTRACT: Central place activities present conflicting demands or tradeoffs between activities at and away from the central place. Stegastes damselfishes are small, mostly reef-associated fishes that are common in shallow tropical and sub-tropical marine environments. Both sexes defend a territory consisting of their food supply and shelter sites, with male territories also including a nest where females lay eggs which are then guarded by the male. Females therefore need to leave their territory to spawn in male nests, putting them at risk of attack during travel and leaving their territory exposed to intruders while away. Female egg-laying tactics can vary among and within species-some complete spawning during a single, extended bout, while others do so in multiple bouts, separated by visits to the

SUBMITTER: Hobbs TL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12238210 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature