HUANG, H.-D.*; RITTSCHOF, D.; JENG, M.-S.: Are Anemonefish Lures? An experimental analysis of chemically and visually mediated anemonefish and grouper behavior

Anemone fish display specific swimming behaviors when chemically stimulated by their anemone hosts (Murata et al., 1986). The present study tests if these behaviors function to lure anemone fish predators into becoming anemone prey. Anemone odors cause anemone fish Amphiprion ocellaris to increase head-up swimming (HUS) and seasawing (SS) behaviors. In the presence of the image and/or the odor of a predator, grouper Epinephelus melanostigma, HUS and SS are enhanced. Grouper increase aggression when exposed to anemone fish odors combined with anemone scent. In the presence of the anemone, grouper behave less aggressively toward a fish decoy without fish odor. These results indicate that HUS and SS behaviors of A. ocellaris are induced by the host anemone and a predator; and the fish-anemone association uses both visual and chemical lures to attract fish predators as anemone prey.