Meeting Abstract
The types of signals that animals use to communicate with conspecifics may strongly influence their behavior and ecology. Anemonefish use both chemical and visual cues to locate host sea anemones, but the relative importance of signal types for communication with other anemonefish remains unknown, and may be important for detection of individuals especially at night. Our preliminary studies revealed that anemonefish secrete substantial amounts of estrogen into the surrounding water, which may serve as a chemical signal to conspecifics, among other potential functions. We examined behavioral responses in 2 species of anemonefishes (Amphiprion bicinctus and A. ocellaris) to stimuli from conspecifics, by presenting receivers with cues from senders that were either: both visual and chemical, visual only, chemical only, or lacking (no stimulus). Responses depended on the body size and social status of the receiver fish. Large, dominant females did not respond to any cues, while smaller, subordinate males responded more to visual than to chemical cues. This variation in response will be discussed in the context of gender and size roles in anemonefish social groups, as well as how nocturnal signals from conspecifics may influence both behavioral and physiological processes.
