CHAPTER 5 GENERAL DISCUSSION
5.9 Conclusion
Fish are an under utilised model system for studies of mate choice and parental care. They
present unique opportunities because they are the most numerous and varied of the vertebrates and
show a wide range of often dynamic care patterns ranging from no-care, to uniparental, paternal and
maternal care (Gross and Sargent 1985; Reynolds et al. 2002). If fish biologists are to work on a
species that is not well-known like guppies or sticklebacks, they need to spend a lot of time learning
about the fish they are studying. This study has made some interesting discoveries and posing some
even more interesting questions that I am unable to answer because I do not have sufficient data on
the natural breeding system, detailed information about the mating and care behaviours, and most
importantly the relative costs and benefits of these behaviours. I think Mogurnda mogurnda shows the
potential for being an exciting species to examine in terms of empirical studies on mate choice and
parental care. The first step would be to study this species in the wild to learn how to apply the
theoretical background I have outlined in this thesis. Physiological measures of the costs of care,
particularly along environmental gradients such as those associated with oxygen and turbidity, would
address aspects of the literature that have not yet been comprehensively covered. I think this species
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