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Helpers in fish

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Summary

Field data show that in the cichlid fish Lamprologus brichardi conspecifics other than the reproducing pair help in brood care and territory maintenance. The expected degree of relatedness between helpers and the eggs or larvae they tend lies between 0.25 and 0.5, decreasing with the helper's age. This decrease might influence the point of time at which helpers depart. Five other endemic Lake Tanganyika cichlids showing rather similar helping behaviour are described.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planek-Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, D-8131, Seewiesen, Federal Republic of Germany

    Michael Taborsky & Dominique Limberger

Authors
  1. Michael Taborsky
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  2. Dominique Limberger
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Taborsky, M., Limberger, D. Helpers in fish. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 8, 143–145 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300826

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300826

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