Interannual fine-scale site fidelity of male ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta revealed by photo-identification and tagging

J Fish Biol. 2019 Oct;95(4):1151-1155. doi: 10.1111/jfb.14111. Epub 2019 Aug 8.

Abstract

The site fidelity of ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta was studied using photo-identification and external tagging. Five male individuals were observed to defend the same small territory composed of a few rocks during several reproductive seasons spanning 2 to 15 years. These results provide one of the strongest indications of long-term very fine-scale site fidelity in marine fishes.

Keywords: Galicia; Labrus bergylta; ballan wrasse; photo-identification; site fidelity; territoriality.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Male
  • Territoriality*
  • Time Factors