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The truth of cleaning fish mimicry: solving the mystery with inter-regional and inter-species comparisons

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K06845
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 45040:Ecology and environment-related
Research InstitutionChukyo University

Principal Investigator

Kuwamura Tetsuo  中京大学, 社会科学研究所, 特任研究員 (00139974)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 坂井 陽一  広島大学, 統合生命科学研究科(生), 教授 (70309946)
Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2021)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,420,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,020,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Keywordsニセクロスジギンポ / 掃除魚擬態 / 攻撃擬態 / 保護擬態 / クロスジギンポ / 鰭かじり / 卵食 / ホンソメワケベラ
Outline of Research at the Start

サンゴ礁にすむニセクロスジギンポは、掃除魚ホンソメワケベラとそっくりの体形・体色をしており、脊椎動物の中でもっとも精巧な擬態として知られている。研究代表者は37年前に沖縄県瀬底島で本種の摂餌行動と食性に関する定量的野外調査を実施し、この擬態の進化に関する仮説を提唱したが、未だ実証されていない。本研究では、瀬底島より南方に位置し、餌条件が異なる宮古島との地域間比較、及び、唯一の同属種で擬態していないクロスジギンポとの種間比較により、掃除魚擬態の真相を解明する。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To verify the mimicry effect of the false cleanerfish Aspidontus taeniatus (mimic), which resembles the bluestreak cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus in color and shape, the population fluctuation and feeding behavior of this and another species of the same genus, A. dussumieri (nonmimic) were observed on the coral reefs of Miyako Island, Okinawa, and compared between the two species and between regions. The survival rate of the mimic was more than twice that of the nonmimic, but the difference was not significant, and the effect of protective mimicry could not be demonstrated. The mimic, regardless of body size, bit on the caudal fins of small fish and fed on the eggs of damselfishes, which were not observed in the nonmimic, suggesting the effect of aggressive mimicry in fish-fin biting.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ニセクロスジギンポの掃除魚擬態については、保護擬態と攻撃擬態の効果が示唆されてきた。本研究ではデータ数が不十分ながら、擬態種の生存率が非擬態種よりも高い可能性が初めて示された。攻撃擬態についてはこれまで小型個体において実証されていたが、本研究では大型個体においても効果があることが初めて示された。掃除魚擬態は、古くから一般ダイバーなどにも興味をもたれてきた現象であるが、内容を誤解されている場合が少なからず見受けられ、本研究により正しい知識の周知が期待される

Report

(4 results)
  • 2021 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (12 results)

All 2022 2021 2020 2019

All Journal Article (6 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 6 results,  Open Access: 6 results) Presentation (6 results)

  • [Journal Article] Behavioral ecology of coral reef fishes studied at Sesoko Station since 19822022

    • Author(s)
      Kuwamura Tetsuo
    • Journal Title

      Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies

      Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Pages: 19-30

    • DOI

      10.3755/galaxea.G2020_S3R

    • NAID

      130008149231

    • ISSN
      1883-0838, 1883-3969
    • Year and Date
      2022-01-31
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Effects of group behavior in the predatory raid on damselfish nests by the false cleanerfish <i>Aspidontus taeniatus</i>2021

    • Author(s)
      Sato Hajime、Sakai Yoichi、Kuwamura Tetsuo
    • Journal Title

      Ethology

      Volume: 128 Issue: 1 Pages: 77-84

    • DOI

      10.1111/eth.13242

    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Testing the effect of mimicry using a color variant of the false cleanerfish <i>Aspidontus taeniatus</i>2020

    • Author(s)
      佐藤 初、坂井 陽一、桑村 哲生
    • Journal Title

      Japanese Journal of Ichthyology

      Volume: 67 Issue: 2 Pages: 253-258

    • DOI

      10.11369/jji.20-019

    • NAID

      130007939410

    • ISSN
      0021-5090, 1884-7374
    • Year and Date
      2020-11-05
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] The false cleanerfish relies on aggressive mimicry to bite fish fins when benthic foods are scarce in their local habitat2020

    • Author(s)
      Fujisawa Misaki、Sakai Yoichi、Kuwamura Tetsuo
    • Journal Title

      Scientific Reports

      Volume: 10 Issue: 1

    • DOI

      10.1038/s41598-020-65304-6

    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Non-mimic color variant of the false cleanerfish <i>Aspidontus taeniatus</i> found in Okinawa, Japan2020

    • Author(s)
      SATO Hajime、SAKAI Yoichi、KUWAMURA Tetsuo
    • Journal Title

      Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies

      Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-2

    • DOI

      10.3755/galaxea.22.1_1

    • NAID

      130007841734

    • ISSN
      1883-0838, 1883-3969
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] Non-mimic color variant of the false cleanerfish Aspidontus taeniatus found in Okinawa, Japan2020

    • Author(s)
      Hajime Sato, Yoichi Sakai, and Tetsuo Kuwamura
    • Journal Title

      Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies

      Volume: 22 Pages: 1-2

    • NAID

      130007841734

    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Presentation] ニセクロスジギンポの集団卵食は魚類で最高レベルの社会的捕食か?2021

    • Author(s)
      佐藤初・坂井陽一・桑村哲生
    • Organizer
      日本動物行動学会第40回大会
    • Related Report
      2021 Annual Research Report
  • [Presentation] ニセクロスジギンポにおける協力行動の進化2021

    • Author(s)
      佐藤初・坂井陽一・桑村哲生
    • Organizer
      日本生態学会第68回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] ニセクロスジギンポの擬態と卵食と群れ行動2020

    • Author(s)
      佐藤初・坂井陽一・桑村哲生
    • Organizer
      日本動物行動学会第39回大会
    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 掃除魚に擬態するニセクロスジギンポの体色変異個体~適応度は低いか?2019

    • Author(s)
      桑村哲生・佐藤初・坂井陽一・藤澤美咲
    • Organizer
      日本動物行動学会第38回大会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] 掃除魚に擬態するニセクロスジギンポの卵食と群れ行動2019

    • Author(s)
      佐藤初・坂井陽一・桑村哲生
    • Organizer
      日本動物行動学会第38回大会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
  • [Presentation] ニセクロスジギンポの繁殖生態―沖縄県からの初報告2019

    • Author(s)
      佐藤初・坂井陽一・桑村哲生
    • Organizer
      2019年度日本魚類学会年会
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2023-01-30  

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