Reproduction of Amphiprion ocellaris and Amphiprion clarkii in
relation to behavior and number of tank mates Kelly Williams &
Maggie Wolters 2011-2012
Slide 2
How We Got Started The experiment is designed to observe the
reproductive behaviors of clownfish. It will test whether or not
the clownfish are more likely to reproduce in a solitary
environment versus in a tank with multiple organisms at constant
temperatures, salinity, and lighting. While observing breeding
behaviors and activity, the experiment will also allow to test for
preferable surfaces during spawning. Data will be recorded based on
everyday observations. It is hypothesized that clownfish are more
likely to breed in a solitary tank, spawn on flat surfaces at
optimum conditions for Amphiprion ocellaris and Amphiprion
clarkii.
Slide 3
Proposal Background Initial Hypothesis Although the time period
that the pairs have been mated is varied, if both tanks are at
optimum conditions, then the solitary Amphiprion clarkii pair in
tank C-2 is more likely to reproduce on the tile and be less
aggressive compared to the Amphiprion ocellaris pair in tank 90
that will produce on a flat rock. Experiment/Methods: Everyday
observations of behaviors of the clownfish and tank mates were
recorded
Slide 4
Question 1 What are the differences in clownfish behavior
between the solitary female Amphiprion clarkii versus the mated
female Amphiprion ocellaris both normally and while breeding?
Slide 5
Q1: Results October/November Observations Tank 90: Female more
active than male, fidgety possibly caused by anemone movement
Breeding: male aerated eggs/stayed beside host anemone, while
female remained active Video 2 Tank C-2: Female hiding in Xenia,
fidgety, inactive (male not present) Video 1
Slide 6
Q1: Results December/January Observations Tank 90: Female
roamed around tank while male remained close to or inside host
anemone. When swimming together, the pair follows each other,
especially around feeding time Breeding: Male aerated the eggs so
remained very close anemone while female was more active, but
stayed fairly nearby. Tank C-2: Female remains close to Xenia,
while the new male is relatively active (opposite of tank 90)
*During the later months, we realized that the male and female A.
clarkii switched swimming patterns
Slide 7
Tank 90 Tank C-2
Slide 8
Q1: Results - February Observations Tank 90: Male and female
A.ocellaris less interactive. Female more active about the tank
while the male is stationary near the host anemone (occurs more in
the afternoon). Anemone movement possible reason for different
behavior Tank C-2: More interaction seen between the male and
female A. clarkii. Female now less fidgety and more active around
the tank, while the male seems to stay near the Xenia. This is
similar the the behaviors of the A. ocellaris in tank 90. Male has
grown in size Video 3
Slide 9
Q1: Results - March Observations Tank 90: More interaction
between the male and female. They tended to follow each other more
and stay close to the host anemone. Tank C-2: No signs of breeding;
however, the male and female clarkii have become even more
interactive than in the previous month. The female is less fidgety
and the male is more stationary in front or above the Xenia.
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Question 2 Do clownfish prefer a tile or a flat rock for
spawning?
Slide 11
Q2: Results October/November Observations Tile was not in tank
90 until December/January Tank 90: Clownfish laid eggs on a rock
under the host anemone Tank C-2: No eggs present (no male)
Slide 12
Q2: Results December/January Observations Tank 90: Tile added
to the center/front part of tank between host anemone and live
rock. It was later moved to a location further back in the tank
near live rock. The clownfish did not lay eggs. Tank C-2: No tile
present, and no eggs laid.
Slide 13
Q2: Results - February Observations Tank 90: The tile is still
present; however, it has not been effective considering the
clownfish did not lay eggs during this month on neither the tile
nor a rock. Tank C-2: No tile present and no eggs were laid
Slide 14
Q2: Results - March Observations Tank 90: The tile is still
present in tank, but no eggs were laid this month. Same as previous
month (February) Tank C-2: There is still no tile in this tank and
no eggs were laid on either surfaces.
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Question 3 Are the clownfish that are isolated in tank C-2 more
likely to breed compared to the clownfish living with other
organisms in tank 90? Male clarkii in C-2
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Q3: Results October/November Observations Tank 90: Eggs were
laid on the rock in late October; however, because male remained
close to the eggs, the tank mates did not bother or show aggressive
behavior toward the clownfish. Tank C-2: No male present, so no
eggs were possible.
Slide 17
Q3: Results December/January Observations Tank 90: Eggs were
laid in late December in the back of the tank. During feeding time,
the clownfish appeared more aggressive toward their tank mates when
they drew near to their eggs. Tank C-2: No signs of breeding and no
eggs were laid.
Slide 18
Q3: Results - February Observations Tank 90: Considering there
were no signs of breeding, no eggs were laid this month. Possible
reasons were inconsistent lighting and algae growth (poor
conditions) Tank C-2: No breeding behaviors recorded and no eggs
were laid. *No comparison can be made.
Slide 19
Q3: Results - March Observations Tank 90: More interaction
between the male and female ocellaris; however, no breeding
behaviors were recorded, therefore no eggs were laid. Tank C-2: No
eggs laid this month. *Cannot make a comparison considering no eggs
were laid in either months.
Slide 20
Question 4 What are specific aggressive behaviors that occur
during clownfish breeding?
Slide 21
Q4: Results October/November Observations Tank 90: No
aggressive behaviors exhibited by clownfish or tank mates were
observed Tank C-2: No other tank mates present around female
Slide 22
Q4: Results December/January Observations Tank 90: No
aggressive behaviors were recorded except for during feeding time.
The Regal Tang would sometimes get too close to the eggs and the
female would chase him off by nipping. Tank C-2: The clownfish pair
did not show any signs of aggression towards each other and they
had no other tank mates.
Slide 23
Q4: Results - February Observations Tank 90: More aggression
behaviors were recorded this month. The regal tang has been more
aggressive towards the ocellaris and other tank mates. This has
created greater stress for the clownfish. Video 4 Tank C-2: The
clarkii pair did not show any signs of aggression towards each
other.
Slide 24
Q4: Results - March Observations Tank 90: Less aggressive
behavior from other tank mates seen this month. The clownfish pair
was not aggressive towards each other either. Tank C-2: No
aggression behaviors between the clarkii pair were recorded this
month.
Slide 25
Question 5 Will the pair that has been mated the longest in
tank 90 be more likely to breed more than the new clownfish pair in
tank C-2?
Slide 26
Q5: Results October/November Observations At this point, the
clownfish pair in tank 90 had obviously bred more because tank C-2
only had a female We believed at this time that following the
addition of a male A. clarkii, the pair in tank C-2 would be more
likely to breed
Slide 27
Q5: Results December/January Observations Tank 90: Once again,
the clownfish in tank 90 have bred more than the other clownfish
pair Tank C-2: Since the addition of another A. clarkii, the two
clownfish have no interacted very much. Possible explanations: Age
difference, still adapting to each other, or not both in symbiosis
with the Xenia
Slide 28
Q5: Results - February Observations Tank 90: In previous months
the ocellaris have bred and laid eggs but they have not this month.
Tank C-2: No breeding signs have occurred between the clarkii pair.
The clownfish are still new to each other *Neither clownfish pair
bred this month
Slide 29
Q5: Results March Observations Tank 90: Although the ocellaris
pair has interacted more this month, no breeding behaviors or laid
eggs were recorded. Possibility we did not see them because in
April eggs were found behind a rock. Tank C-2: No breeding occurred
this month *Neither clownfish pair bred this month
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October/November Ethogram
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December/January Ethogram
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February Ethogram
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March Ethogram
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Daily/Monthly Successes Currently witnessing the clownfish pair
in tank 90 aerating eggs again behind live rock (third time) Algae
growth is maintained Corals have remained consistently healthy over
the entire year Interaction between the male and female A.
clarkii
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Daily/Monthly Challenges Algae growth (peppermint shrimp and
crabs helped maintain healthy conditions, as well as removal by
hand) Inconsistent lighting in tank 90 (purchased new lights in
April) Did not purchase another A. clarkii until January for tank
C-2 The death of the nudibranch in anemone (released toxins)
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Other Observations Algae growth in both tanks Tile in tank 90
Age difference between clownfish pairs Female A. clarkii became
less fidgety with addition of new male A. clarkii Activity of the
anemones in tank 90
Slide 37
Anemone Movement
Slide 38
Conclusion Rejection of hypothesis Although the time period
that the pairs have been mated is varied, if both tanks are at
optimum conditions, then the solitary Amphiprion clarkii pair in
tank C-2 is more likely to reproduce on the tile and be less
aggressive compared to the Amphiprion ocellaris pair in tank 90
that will produce on a flat rock. Why? The Amphiprion ocellaris in
tank 90 laid eggs 3 times while the Amphiprion clarkii did not
breed once Alternative explanations Age difference Limited time
together during this project (A. clarkii) Algae growth A. clarkii
pair prefer tile? A. ocellaris not really bothered by other tank
mates in tank 90 during breeding