Caudal Call: Fin Morphology During Protandrous Sex Change in Lythrypnus dalli
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Devaleena Pradhan (Mentor), Idaho State University
Abstract
The bluebanded goby Lythrypnus dalli, is a bi-directional sexually plastic fish in which one male is dominant over many females. This complex social environment allows for the identification of behavior and phenotypic changes associated with the formation of a dominant status. In order to achieve and maintain a higher social status, these fish l use a variety of aggressive behaviors, from visual displays to contact aggression. We hypothesize that these fish also utilize their specific body parts to help or exaggerate these behaviors. For example, they might display a larger dorsal fin by making it look ‘flared’ or attack the caudal fin of another fish in the group. Previous research has shown that these fish can change morphology when undergoing sex change, however, this aggression of establishing hierarchy can lead to damage of the caudal fin. Utilizing ImageJ, I will be exploring the changes in caudal fin length and area changes during protandrous sex change. This work will create a baseline for the future receptor manipulation studies looking at fin morphology during parental care.
Caudal Call: Fin Morphology During Protandrous Sex Change in Lythrypnus dalli
The bluebanded goby Lythrypnus dalli, is a bi-directional sexually plastic fish in which one male is dominant over many females. This complex social environment allows for the identification of behavior and phenotypic changes associated with the formation of a dominant status. In order to achieve and maintain a higher social status, these fish l use a variety of aggressive behaviors, from visual displays to contact aggression. We hypothesize that these fish also utilize their specific body parts to help or exaggerate these behaviors. For example, they might display a larger dorsal fin by making it look ‘flared’ or attack the caudal fin of another fish in the group. Previous research has shown that these fish can change morphology when undergoing sex change, however, this aggression of establishing hierarchy can lead to damage of the caudal fin. Utilizing ImageJ, I will be exploring the changes in caudal fin length and area changes during protandrous sex change. This work will create a baseline for the future receptor manipulation studies looking at fin morphology during parental care.