Re: NANFA-- Hornyhead redtail

DasArm_at_aol.com
Thu, 9 Mar 2000 23:11:45 EST

In a message dated 3/7/00 3:16:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,
HOOVERJ_at_wes.army.mil writes:

<< www.d.umn.edu/seagr/pubs/seiche/feb.00/art1.html >>
<< Ten or more females will spawn in one nest but none of them stay long
enough to help the male redtail chub build or defend the nest. Researchers
have documented, however, that a male common shiner will sometimes share the
nest and incidentally become his ally. In a beneficial relationship, they
ignore each other but drive off other fish approaching their communal
property. Common shiners are most active in repelling smaller intruders,
including hungry female redtail chubs, while the chubs take on larger
egg-marauders. >>

This is very interesting to me. The idea of two totally different species
helping each other for mutual gain is very fascinating. It really illustrates
the interconnectedness of all the members of an aquatic ecosystem and how
none ot its members are unimportant. I wonder what the chances would be of
these two fish species demonstrating this behaviour in an artificial
environment.

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