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Influence of sexual genotype on the behaviour of females (genotype WZ) and pseudofemales (genotype ZZ) in the tilapia Oreochromis aureus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2002

Michaël Ovidio ,
Damien Desprez ,
Charles Mélard  and
Pascal Poncin
Michaël Ovidio
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Laboratory of Fish Demography and Aquaculture, 10, chemin de la Justice, B-4500 Tihange, Belgium University of Liège, Department of Ethology and Animal Psychology, 22, quai Van Beneden, B-4020 Liège, Belgium
Damien Desprez
Affiliation:
ARDA, Freshwater Aquaculture Centre, ZI Les sables, BP 16-97427, Etang Salé, La Réunion, France University of Liège, CEFRA, Education and Research Center in Aquaculture, 10, chemin de la Justice, B-4500 Tihange, Belgium
Charles Mélard
Affiliation:
University of Liège, CEFRA, Education and Research Center in Aquaculture, 10, chemin de la Justice, B-4500 Tihange, Belgium
Pascal Poncin
Affiliation:
University of Liège, Department of Ethology and Animal Psychology, 22, quai Van Beneden, B-4020 Liège, Belgium
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Abstract

17α-ethynylestradiol sex-reversed males of Oreochromis aureus (pseudofemales, ΔF, genotype ZZ) are used in aquaculture to produce a male monosex population by crossing with ZZ homogametic normal males. When placed with males (M) and females (F) in the same spawning tank, the spawning rate of F is higher than for ΔF. In order to understand this phenomenon, comparisons were made between the behaviour of 18 F (446 ± 96 mm) and 18 ΔF (401 ± 59 mm). ΔF showed a more aggressive behaviour and were significantly more dominant than normal F in fighting pair experiments (F × ΔF) or in fighting group experiments in four different stocking densities (8, 12, 16 and 83 fish 10–3 l with F/ΔF RATIO = 1). ΔF were also more aggressive towards males than F were. The results support the idea that behavioural differences exist between F and ΔF. These differences are probably due to the effect of the sexual genotype on behaviour.

Keywords

BehaviourSex-reversalPseudofemaleTilapiaOreochromis aureus
Type
Research Article
Information
Aquatic Living Resources , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , June 2002 , pp. 163 - 167
Copyright
© Elsevier, IRD, Inra, Ifremer, Cemagref, CNRS, 2002

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