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Article 3

Clownfish chemically recognized their sea-anemone host at settlement

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N. ROUX1, D. LECCHINI 1,2*
1 USR 3278 CNRS-EPHE-UPVD, Université de Perpignan via Domitia, 52 avenue Paul Alduy, 66100 Perpignan, France
2 Laboratoire d’Excellence « CORAIL », BP1013 Papetoai, 98729 Moorea, French Polynesia
* Corresponding author: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ABSTRACT. – One of the greatest challenges facing marine reef organisms with a pelagic larval stage that develops in offshore waters is how they relocate to patchily distributed reef environments in a vast oceanic matrix. In the present study, a series of aquarium experiments using a choice flume were conducted to test the abilities of Amphiprion ocellaris larvae (clownfish) to chemically recognize their host sea-anemone Heteractis magnifica. Moreover, to know if chemical abilities of fish change after settlement, the study was also conducted on juvenile stage. The results showed that both larvae and juveniles had a significant preference toward their host. Thus, our study showed that olfactory cues could play an important role in directing pelagic larval stage fishes to a suitable reef in which they can settle on.

You are here: Volume 65 (2015) Issue 1 Article 3
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