• Male sticklebacks when in a full reproductive condition will attack other males, but will try to mate with females.

• Stickleback are territorial fish and will guard their nests from other males. Males have red bellies and this is the stimulus which makes other males attack.

• Female stickleback have silver bellies, this is the stimulus that attracts the males. The bellies of females are also swollen but it has been proven throught experimentation that the stimulus that attracts the males is in fact the colour of the belly.

Courtship in Stickleback

• The male stickleback will make a nest in his territory and get it ready for egg laying.

• When he sees the stimulus (the red belly of the female) he will do a little dance (circular movements) and swim up to the female.

• The female is stimulated by the dance and responds by following the male into the nest. The male continues to dance until the female pops her head into the nest.

• As soon as she does this, the male swims around to the back of the female and prods her deeper into the nest.

• The proding is a stimulus for the female, and she responds by laying her eggs into the nest.

• The male then shoves her out of the nest and he enters it. It is thought that the male doesn't require the female anymore so he attacks her until she leaves his territory.

• If any competeting males come into his territory the male will attack them.

Other Notes in this Category

1. Behaviour
2. Conditioning
3. Nature/Nurture, Imprinting and Social Behaviour

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