Meeting Abstract

45-6  Sunday, Jan. 5 09:15 – 09:30  Perceived paternity affects parental care behaviour in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis machrochirus) CHURCHMAN, EKL*; HAIN, TJA; KNAPP, R; NEFF, BD; University of Western Ontario, London, ON; University of Western Ontario, London, ON; University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; University of Western Ontario, London, ON echurchm@uwo.ca

Understanding the mechanisms that lead to adaptive behaviour is an exciting interface between levels of analysis in behavioural ecology. Here we manipulated perceived paternity of nest-tending parental male bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and examined the effect on circulating hormone concentrations and parental care behaviour. Males’ perceived paternity was reduced using either an indirect cue of the presence of cuckolder males during spawning, or a direct cue of swapping a portion of the eggs in males’ nests. When compared to control males, we found that reduced paternity led to a decrease in males’ aggressive behaviour directed towards a brood predator. However, we found no apparent effect of the manipulation on circulating 11-ketotestosterone concentrations. We will discuss the effect of prolactin with the goal of understanding the mechanisms influencing adaptive parental care decisions.