title: Does sex influence intraspecific aggression and dominance in Nile tilapia juveniles?
abstract: Although sex of mature fish is known to influence aggression, this issue has so far been neglected in juveniles. Here, we tested this sex effect and showed that it does not significantly affect intraspecific aggression in juveniles of the cichlid Nile tilapia. To reach this conclusion, we measured the latency period before onset of confrontation, the frequency and types of aggressive interactions, the duration of a dispute, and the probability of becoming dominant. This was done on pairs of Nile tilapia that varied by sex: females×females, males×males, and females×males. In a double blind approach, after pairing, the sex of each individual was histologically verified and contrasted with behavioral data.
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Cândido Ferreira
authors: CF
authors: Pinho-Neto
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Caio Akira
authors: CA
authors: Miyai
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Fabio Henrique Carretero
authors: FH
authors: Sanches
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Percília Cardoso
authors: PC
authors: Giaquinto
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Helton Carlos
authors: HC
authors: Delicio
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioexperimentação, Universidade de Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
authors: Leonardo José Gil
authors: LJ
authors: Barcellos
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Gilson Luiz
authors: GL
authors: Volpato
authors: Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, CAUNESP, UNESP, Rubião Jr. s/n, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: rebarreto@yahoo.com.
authors: Rodrigo Egydio
authors: RE
authors: Barreto
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D023681:Cichlids / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012930:Social Dominance
keywords: Aggression; Agonistic behavior; Females; Fighting; Males; Sexual selection