Capacidade de retorno à área vital, padrão de dispersão e organização social em Blennius Sanguinolentus Pallas (Pisces: Blenniidae) durante a época de reprodução

Abstract

Spacing and patterns of dispersion are described from field observations of 69 individuals of different social groups of Blennius sanguinolentus pallas, in Faial island, Azores, during the season of reproduction. Fifty-three individuals were marked and released at distances from 10 to 120m from the capture site (home pool) in order to define the ability of orientation. Forty-four individuals or 83% returned to the home pool. The social group to which the individual fish belong does not seem to influence the ability to return nor was the distance from the release site to the home pool found to be of importance. (Fisher’s exact probability test: P=0.49 adult males v. juvenile males (0+); P=0.32 adult males v. females and P=0.21 females v. males (0+). The mechanisms on which the orientation is based are discussed as well as the function they serve (...)