Q12 - Reproduction in Fish

Question 1

What is significant about the female/egg size relationship in the broad-nosed pipefish?

Answer 1

Egg size is positively correlated to female size

Question 2

What does a large egg mean for the offspring in the broad-nosed pipefish?

Answer 2

Offspring are larger and have better survival rates

Question 3

What parent invests in reproduction in the broad-nosed pipefish?

What do they do for the eggs?

Answer 3

Males - carry eggs in sealed brood-pouch, provides oxygen, nutrients and protection

Question 4

What do hypoxic conditions elicit in brooding male broad-nosed pipefish?

Why does it have this effect?

Answer 4

Faster opercular movements - increased ventilation rate means increased oxygen intake, which means more oxygen is available for the eggs

Question 5

What other behaviour was seen in brooding male broad-nosed pipefish?

What was this in response to?

Answer 5

Increased time spent swimming - not significantly affected by oxygen levels, but affected by size of the eggs (large eggs increase movement)