[Reproductive behavior of the green birdmouth wrasse Gomphosus caeruleus on a Reunion Island reef: Mode of reproduction, environmental factors and reproductive strategy alternation].

The green birdmouth wrasse Gomphosus caeruleus is present all year round on the coral reefs of Reunion Island (Indian Ocean). A group of individuals was followed on one of these reefs with the objective of studying the reproduction mode of the species, the influence of environmental factors, and social behaviors on the control of reproduction. Our observations revealed that G. caeruleus is, like many Labridae, a protogynous hermaphrodite species, probably diandric, that the reproduction of G. caeruleus is, like in other reef fish species, influenced by the lunar cycle with a peak of reproductive activity during waxing gibbous phase, and that G. caeruleus displays social behavior leading to alternating haremic mating system on a single territory and lek-like mating systems without aggressions between males. These observations enhanced our knowledge of the reproduction of Labridae and reef species.