Meeting Abstract
Territorial animals are aggressive towards other individuals, but territorial aggression can vary among species or based on the identity of the competitor. Some territorial species exhibit “dear enemy” recognition; where lower levels of aggression are directed at neighboring, territorial individuals compared to intruders or unfamiliar individuals. The sheepshead minnow, Cyprinodon variegatus, is more aggressive than and can outcompete closely related species. Territorial males of this species also exhibit ‘dear enemy’ recognition. Recently, C. variegatus has been introduced into the home range of Cyprinodon rubrofluviatilis, leading to hybridization between the species. We test the hypothesis that territorial males of these two Cyprinodon species differ in expression of dear enemy recognition. We also examine territorial formation between heterospecifics and evaluate if heterospecific neighbors express ‘dear enemy’ recognition towards each other. We present preliminary data from laboratory experiments testing these hypotheses. Understanding the dynamics between territorial males of different species may help identify what is driving hybridization and ultimately inform conservation strategies.
