Mozambique tilapia: Difference between revisions
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==Hybridization== |
==Hybridization== |
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As with most species of tilapia, Mozambique tilapia have a high potential for [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridization]]. They are often crossbred with other tilapia species in aquaculture because purebred Mozambique tilapia grow slowly and have a body shape poorly suited to cutting large [[fillet (cut)|fillet]]s. Also, hybrids between certain parent combinations (such as between Mozambique and [[Wami tilapia]]) result in offspring that are all or predominantly male. Male tilapia are preferred in aquaculture as they grow faster and have a more uniform adult size than females. The "Florida Red" tilapia is a popular commercial hybrid of Mozambique and [[Blue tilapia]].<ref>http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA012</ref> |
As with most species of tilapia, Mozambique tilapia have a high potential for [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridization]]. They are often crossbred with other tilapia species in aquaculture because purebred Mozambique tilapia grow slowly and have a body shape poorly suited to cutting large [[fillet (cut)|fillet]]s. Also, hybrids between certain parent combinations (such as between Mozambique and [[Wami tilapia]]) result in offspring that are all or predominantly male. Male tilapia are preferred in aquaculture as they grow faster and have a more uniform adult size than females. The "Florida Red" tilapia is a popular commercial hybrid of Mozambique and [[Blue tilapia]].<ref>http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA012</ref> |
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==Feeding Behavior and Environment== |
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Although Mozambique tilapias generally live in rivers and lagoons, they can also colonize fast-flowing areas of water such as creeks and streams. Due to their robust nature, Mozambique tilapias often over-colonize the habitat around them, eventually becoming the most abundant species in a particular area. When over-crowding happens and resources get scarce, adults will sometimes cannibalize the young for more nutrients. Mozambique tilapia, like other fish such as Nile tilapia and trout, are opportunistic omnivores and will feed on algae, plant matter, organic particles, small invertebrates and other fish.<ref name=Factsheet>{{cite web|title=Biology and ecology of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)|url=http://www.feral.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/TILFS3_web.pdf|publisher=feral.org.au|accessdate=24 October 2013}}</ref> Feeding patterns vary depending on which food source is the most abundant and the most accessible at the time. In captivity, Mozambique tilapias have been known to learn how to feed themselves using demand feeders. During commercial feeding, the fish may energetically jump out of the water for food. <ref name="Online Guide">{{cite web|last=De Peaza|first=Mia|title=Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique Tilapia)|url=http://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/documents/Oreochromis_mossambicus.pdf|publisher=UWI|accessdate=24 October 2013}}</ref> |
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==Social Structure== |
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Mozambique tilapias often travel in groups where a strict dominance hierarchy is maintained. Positions within the hierarchy correlate with territoriality, courtship rate, nest size, aggression, and hormone production.<ref name="Social Modulation">{{cite journal|last=Oliveira|first=Rui F.|coauthors=Vitor C. Almada, Adelino V. M. Canario|title=Social Modulation of Sex Steroid Concentrations in the Urine of Male Cichlid Fish Oreochromis mossambicus|journal=Hormones and Behavior|year=1996|volume=30|pages=2-12}}</ref> In terms of social structure, Mozambique tilapias engage in a system known as lek-breeding, where males establish territories with dominance hierarchies while females travel between them. Social hierarchies typically develop because of competition for limited resources including food, territories, or mates. During the breeding season, males cluster around certain territory, forming a dense aggregation in shallow water.<ref name=Outcome>{{cite journal|last=Amorim|first=M. Clara P.|coauthors=Almada, Vitor C.|title=The outcome of male–male encounters affects subsequent sound production during courtship in the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus|journal=Animal Behaviour|date=1|year=2005|month=March|volume=69|issue=3|pages=595–601|doi=10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.06.016}}</ref> This aggregation forms the basis of the lek through which the females preferentially choose their mates. Reproductive success by males within the lek is highly correlated to social status and dominance.<ref name=Sterol>{{cite journal|last=Barata|first=Eduardo N.|coauthors=Fine, Jared M.; Hubbard, Peter C.; Almeida, Olinda G.; Frade, Pedro; Sorensen, Peter W.; Canário, Adelino V. M.|title=A Sterol-Like Odorant in the Urine of Mozambique Tilapia Males Likely Signals Social Dominance to Females|journal=Journal of Chemical Ecology|date=1|year=2008|month=April|volume=34|issue=4|pages=438–449|doi=10.1007/s10886-008-9458-7}}</ref> |
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In experiments with captive tilapias, evidence demonstrates the formation of linear hierarchies where the alpha male participates in significantly more agonistic interactions. Thus, males that are higher ranked initiate much more aggressive acts than subordinate males. However, contrary to popular belief, Mozambique tilapias display more agonistic interactions towards fish that are farther apart in the hierarchy scale than they do towards individuals closer in rank. One hypothesis behind this action rests with the fact that aggressive actions are costly. In this context, members of this social system tend to avoid confrontations with neighboring ranks in order to conserve resources rather than engage in an unclear and risky fight. Instead, dominant individuals seek to bully subordinate tilapias both for an easy fight and to keep their rank. <ref name=Dominance>{{cite journal|last=Oliveira|first=R.F.|coauthors=V.C. Almada|title=Dominance hierarchies and social structure in captive groups of the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Teleostei Cichlidae)|journal=Ethology Ecology & Evolution|year=1996|volume=8|pages=39-55}}</ref> |
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==Communication and Aggression== |
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Urine in Mozambique tilapias, like many freshwater fish species, acts as a vector for communication amongst individuals. Hormones and pheromones released with urine by the fish often affect the behavior and physiology of the opposite sex. Dominant males signal females through the use of a urinary odorant. Further studies have suggested that females respond to the ratio of chemicals within the urine, as opposed to the odor itself. Nevertheless, females are known to be able to distinguish between hierarchical rank and dominant vs. subordinate males through chemicals in urine. |
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Interestingly, urinary pheromones also play a part in male – male interaction for Mozambique tilapias. Studies have shown that male aggression is highly correlated with increased urination. Symmetrical aggression between males resulted in an increase in the release of urination frequency. Dominant males both store and release more potent urine during agonistic interactions. Thus, both the initial stage of lek formation and the maintenance of social hierarchy may highly depend on the males’ varying urinary output.<ref name="Male urine">{{cite journal|last=Barata|first=Eduardo N|coauthors=Hubbard, Peter C; Almeida, Olinda G; Miranda, António; Canário, Adelino VM|title=Male urine signals social rank in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)|journal=BMC Biology|date=1|year=2007|month=January|volume=5|issue=1|pages=54|doi=10.1186/1741-7007-5-54}}</ref> |
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Aggression amongst males usually involve a typical sequence of visual, acoustic, and tactile signals that eventually escalates to physical confrontation if no resolution is reached. Usually, conflict ends before physical aggression as fights are both costly and risky. Bodily damage may impede an individual’s ability to find a mate in the future. In order to prevent cheating, in which individual may fake his own fitness, these aggressive rituals incur significant energetic costs. Thus, cheating is prevented by the sheer fact that the costs of initiating a ritual often outweigh the benefits of cheating. In this regards, differences between individuals in endurance plays a critical role in resolving the winner and the loser.<ref name=Aggressive>{{cite journal|last=Ros|first=Albert F.H.|coauthors=Klaus Becker, Rui F. Oliveira|title=Aggressive behaviour and energy metabolism in a cichlid fish, Oreochromis mossambicus|journal=Physiology & Behavior|date=30|year=2006|month=May|pages=1-7}}</ref> |
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==Reproduction== |
==Reproduction== |
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Revision as of 06:06, 25 October 2013
| Mozambique Tilapia | |
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| Species: | O. mossambicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Oreochromis mossambicus (W. K. H. Peters, 1852)
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The Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, is a tilapiine cichlid fish native to southern Africa. It is a popular fish for aquaculture. It is now found in tropical and subtropical habitats around the globe, where it can become an invasive species. It is known as Blue Kurper in South Africa.[2]
Description
The native Mozambique tilapia is laterally compressed, and has a deep body with long dorsal fins, the front part of which have spines. Native coloration is a dull greenish or yellowish, and there may be weak banding. Adults reach approximately 35 centimetres (14 in) in length and up to 1.13 kilograms (2.5 lb). Size and coloration may vary in captive and naturalized populations due to environmental and breeding pressures. It lives for up to 11 years.
It is a remarkably robust and fecund fish, readily adapting to available food sources and breeding under suboptimal conditions. It also tolerates brackish water and survives temperatures below 50 °F (10 °C) and above 100 °F (38 °C). Sustained water temperatures of 55 degrees are lethal to Mozambique tilapia.
Home range
The Mozambique tilapia is native to coastal regions and the lower reaches of rivers in southern Africa, from the Zambezi River delta to Bushman River in the eastern Cape.[3] It is threatened in its home range by competition with the invasive Nile tilapia.[4]
Diet
Mozambique tilapia are omnivorous. They can consume detrital material, diatoms, invertebrates, small fry and vegetation ranging from macroalgae to rooted plants.[5][6] This broad diet helps the species thrive in diverse locations.
Invasiveness
The Mozambique tilapia is an invasive species in many parts of the world, having escaped from aquaculture or been deliberately introduced to control mosquitoes.[7] It has been nominated by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) as one the 100 worst invasive species in the world.[8] It can harm native fish populations through competition for food and nesting space, as well as by directly consuming small fish.[9] In Hawaii, striped mullet Mugil cephalus are threatened because of the introduction of this species. Mozambique tilapia may also be responsible for the decline of the desert pupfish, Cyprinodon macularius, in California's Salton Sea.[10][11]
Hybridization
As with most species of tilapia, Mozambique tilapia have a high potential for hybridization. They are often crossbred with other tilapia species in aquaculture because purebred Mozambique tilapia grow slowly and have a body shape poorly suited to cutting large fillets. Also, hybrids between certain parent combinations (such as between Mozambique and Wami tilapia) result in offspring that are all or predominantly male. Male tilapia are preferred in aquaculture as they grow faster and have a more uniform adult size than females. The "Florida Red" tilapia is a popular commercial hybrid of Mozambique and Blue tilapia.[12]
Feeding Behavior and Environment
Although Mozambique tilapias generally live in rivers and lagoons, they can also colonize fast-flowing areas of water such as creeks and streams. Due to their robust nature, Mozambique tilapias often over-colonize the habitat around them, eventually becoming the most abundant species in a particular area. When over-crowding happens and resources get scarce, adults will sometimes cannibalize the young for more nutrients. Mozambique tilapia, like other fish such as Nile tilapia and trout, are opportunistic omnivores and will feed on algae, plant matter, organic particles, small invertebrates and other fish.[13] Feeding patterns vary depending on which food source is the most abundant and the most accessible at the time. In captivity, Mozambique tilapias have been known to learn how to feed themselves using demand feeders. During commercial feeding, the fish may energetically jump out of the water for food. [14]
Social Structure
Mozambique tilapias often travel in groups where a strict dominance hierarchy is maintained. Positions within the hierarchy correlate with territoriality, courtship rate, nest size, aggression, and hormone production.[15] In terms of social structure, Mozambique tilapias engage in a system known as lek-breeding, where males establish territories with dominance hierarchies while females travel between them. Social hierarchies typically develop because of competition for limited resources including food, territories, or mates. During the breeding season, males cluster around certain territory, forming a dense aggregation in shallow water.[16] This aggregation forms the basis of the lek through which the females preferentially choose their mates. Reproductive success by males within the lek is highly correlated to social status and dominance.[17] In experiments with captive tilapias, evidence demonstrates the formation of linear hierarchies where the alpha male participates in significantly more agonistic interactions. Thus, males that are higher ranked initiate much more aggressive acts than subordinate males. However, contrary to popular belief, Mozambique tilapias display more agonistic interactions towards fish that are farther apart in the hierarchy scale than they do towards individuals closer in rank. One hypothesis behind this action rests with the fact that aggressive actions are costly. In this context, members of this social system tend to avoid confrontations with neighboring ranks in order to conserve resources rather than engage in an unclear and risky fight. Instead, dominant individuals seek to bully subordinate tilapias both for an easy fight and to keep their rank. [18]
Communication and Aggression
Urine in Mozambique tilapias, like many freshwater fish species, acts as a vector for communication amongst individuals. Hormones and pheromones released with urine by the fish often affect the behavior and physiology of the opposite sex. Dominant males signal females through the use of a urinary odorant. Further studies have suggested that females respond to the ratio of chemicals within the urine, as opposed to the odor itself. Nevertheless, females are known to be able to distinguish between hierarchical rank and dominant vs. subordinate males through chemicals in urine. Interestingly, urinary pheromones also play a part in male – male interaction for Mozambique tilapias. Studies have shown that male aggression is highly correlated with increased urination. Symmetrical aggression between males resulted in an increase in the release of urination frequency. Dominant males both store and release more potent urine during agonistic interactions. Thus, both the initial stage of lek formation and the maintenance of social hierarchy may highly depend on the males’ varying urinary output.[19] Aggression amongst males usually involve a typical sequence of visual, acoustic, and tactile signals that eventually escalates to physical confrontation if no resolution is reached. Usually, conflict ends before physical aggression as fights are both costly and risky. Bodily damage may impede an individual’s ability to find a mate in the future. In order to prevent cheating, in which individual may fake his own fitness, these aggressive rituals incur significant energetic costs. Thus, cheating is prevented by the sheer fact that the costs of initiating a ritual often outweigh the benefits of cheating. In this regards, differences between individuals in endurance plays a critical role in resolving the winner and the loser.[20]
Reproduction
In the first step in the reproductive cycle for Mozambique tilapia, males excavate a nest into which a female can lay her eggs. After the eggs are laid the male fertilizes them. Then the female stores the eggs in her mouth, called mouthbrooding, until the fry hatch.[21]
Use in aquaculture
Mozambique tilapia are hardy individuals that are easy to raise and harvest, making them a good aquacultural species. They have a mild, white flesh that is appealing to consumers. This species constitutes about 4% of the total tilapia aquaculture production worldwide, but is more commonly hybridized with other tilapia species.[22] Tilapia are very susceptible to diseases such as whirling disease and ich.[23]
Other names
The species is known by a number of other names including:
- Oreochromis andersonii
- Tilapia kafuensis
- Kafue bream
- Three spotted tilapia
Notes
- ^ Cambray, J. & Swartz, E. 2007. Oreochromis mossambicus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 May 2013.
- ^ Big Bass
- ^ http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=131
- ^ Waal 2002
- ^ Mook 1983
- ^ Trewevas 1983
- ^ Moyle 1976
- ^ Courtenay 1989
- ^ Courtenay et al. 1974
- ^ Courtenay and Robins 1989
- ^ Swift et al. 1993
- ^ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA012
- ^ "Biology and ecology of Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)" (PDF). feral.org.au. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ De Peaza, Mia. "Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique Tilapia)" (PDF). UWI. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
- ^ Oliveira, Rui F. (1996). "Social Modulation of Sex Steroid Concentrations in the Urine of Male Cichlid Fish Oreochromis mossambicus". Hormones and Behavior. 30: 2–12.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Amorim, M. Clara P. (1). "The outcome of male–male encounters affects subsequent sound production during courtship in the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus". Animal Behaviour. 69 (3): 595–601. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2004.06.016.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Barata, Eduardo N. (1). "A Sterol-Like Odorant in the Urine of Mozambique Tilapia Males Likely Signals Social Dominance to Females". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 34 (4): 438–449. doi:10.1007/s10886-008-9458-7.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Oliveira, R.F. (1996). "Dominance hierarchies and social structure in captive groups of the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Teleostei Cichlidae)". Ethology Ecology & Evolution. 8: 39–55.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Barata, Eduardo N (1). "Male urine signals social rank in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)". BMC Biology. 5 (1): 54. doi:10.1186/1741-7007-5-54.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Ros, Albert F.H. (30). "Aggressive behaviour and energy metabolism in a cichlid fish, Oreochromis mossambicus". Physiology & Behavior: 1–7.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Popma, 1999
- ^ Gupta and Acosta 2004
- ^ Popma, 1999
References
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Oreochromis mossambicus" in FishBase. 2 2007 version.
- "Oreochromis mossambicus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 10 January 2007.
- Courtenay W.R., Jr. 1989. Exotic fishes in the National Park System. Pages 237–252 in: Thomas L.K. (ed.). Proceedings of the 1986 conference on science in the national parks, volume 5. Management of exotic species in natural communities. U.S. National Park Service and George Wright Society, Washington, D.C.
- Courtenay W.R., Jr., and C.R. Robins. 1989. Fish introductions: Good management, mismanagement, or no management? CRC Critical Reviews in Aquatic Sciences 1:159–172.
- Courtenay W.R., Jr., Sahlman H.F, Miley W.W., II, and D.J. Herrema. 1974. Exotic fishes in fresh and brackish waters of Florida. Biological Conservation 6:292–302.
- Gupta M.V. and B.O. Acosta. 2004. A review of global tilapia farming practices. WorldFish Center P.O. Box 500 GPO, 10670, Penang, Malaysia.
- Mook D. 1983. Responses of common fouling organisms in the Indian River, Florida, to various predation and disturbance intensities. Estuaries 6:372–379.
- Moyle P.B. 1976. Inland fishes of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 330 p.
- Popma, T. Tilapia Life History and Biology 1999 Southern Region Aquaculture Center
- Swift C.C., Haglund T.R., Ruiz M., and R.N. Fisher. 1993. The status and distribution of the freshwater fishes of southern California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Science 92:101–167.
- Trewevas E. 1983. Tilapiine Fishes Of The Genera Sarotherodon, Oreochromis And Danakilia. British Museum Of Natural History, Publication Number 878.Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York. 583 p.
- Waal, Ben van der, 2002. Another fish on its way to extinction?. Science in Africa.
External links
- Photo of "Florida Red" hybrid. Retrieved 2007-JUL-12.
