Synopsis
Spawning in the pufferTakifugu niphobles was observed at Tomioka in western Kyushu, Japan, and the factors affecting the spawning time were estimated using a multiple regression analysis. Spawning in this puffer occurred in the intertidal beach during evening rising tides around the full and new moons. Both the time of commencement and ending of a day's spawning were related mainly to the tidal cycle, and occurred later when the high tides occurred later. However, the termination of a day's spawning was also affected by the diurnal cycle; spawning ended earlier when sunset was earlier. Besides, a day's spawning tended to be concentrated within a shorter time span when the interval between the commencement of spawning and the sunset was shorter. Thus the spawning time of the puffer is regulated not only by the tidal but also by the diel cycle, and it is suggested that the adaptive significance of the spawning reactions to both cycles should be examined separately.
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Yamahira, K. Combined effects of tidal and diurnal cycles on spawning of the puffer,Takifugu niphobles (Tetraodontidae). Environ Biol Fish 40, 255–261 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002513
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002513