Brooding versus feeding

Effect of mouthbrooding on the functioning and efficiency of the respiratory pump in cichlids.

Promoters:  Peter Aerts & Sam Van Wassenbergh

Outline:

Brood care is common among cichlid fish. In mouthbrooding species, one parent (usually the female) holds the offspring in the mouth for extended periods of time. This behaviour implies a prolonged depression of the hyoid and an expansion of the suspensoria (increasing the mouth cavity). However, in fish, the hyoid and the suspensorium make up the buccal pump, which, in concert with the opercular pump, guarantees respiration. The obvious question arises whether the presence of developing brood affects the functioning and efficiency of the respiratory system. This master thesis entails a kinesiological study of respiration in female cichlids at different stages of the breeding period. The study species is Oreochromis niloticus.