Warner R R, Swearer S E
Biol Bull. 1991 Oct;181(2):199-204. doi: 10.2307/1542090.
While the bluehead wrasse has long been used as a test species in sex allocation theory, there is no published evidence that sex change in this species is socially controlled. Here we show that removal of large terminal color phase (TP) males from local populations leads to sex and color change in the largest initial color phase (IP) females. In contrast, no sex changes occurred in control populations in which the TP males were handled but replaced, and in which only the IP males were removed. The response to removals was quite precise, resulting in a nearly one-to-one replacement of TP males. Large individuals that had been seen spawning as female males on the day prior to the manipulation, initiated male behaviors within minutes of the removal of the TP males and spawned in the male role the same day. Color changes were noted within a day and were distinct within four days. Sex change was verified by histological examination of the gonads of the changing individuals. All had functional testes, and all showed evidence of recent transition from the ovarian condition. Mature sperm can be produced in as little as eight days after the initiation of sex change.
虽然蓝头濑鱼长期以来一直被用作性分配理论的测试物种，但尚无已发表的证据表明该物种的性别变化受社会控制。在此我们表明，从当地种群中移除大型终期色型（TP）雄鱼会导致最大初始色型（IP）雌鱼发生性别和颜色变化。相比之下，在对照种群中未发生性别变化，在这些对照种群中，TP雄鱼被处理后又被放回，且只移除了IP雄鱼。对移除操作的反应非常精确，导致TP雄鱼几乎一对一地被取代。在操作前一天被观察到以雌性雄鱼身份产卵的大型个体，在TP雄鱼被移除后的几分钟内就开始表现出雄性行为，并在同一天以雄性角色产卵。颜色变化在一天内被注意到，并在四天内变得明显。通过对发生变化个体的性腺进行组织学检查，证实了性别变化。所有个体都有功能性睾丸，并且都显示出最近从卵巢状态转变的迹象。性别变化开始后，最短只需八天就能产生成熟精子。
