Courting females: ecological constraints affect sex roles in a natural population of the blenniid fish Salaria pavo

The ecological modulation affects sex roles in a natural population of the blenniid fish, Salaria pavo. The female initiation of mating predominates over male intra-sexual competition, active courtship and developed epigamic characters in males. More than one female of S. pavo comes to the nest and each female mates with different males during the breeding season. The males are selective in admitting the females to the nest. The ability of females to spawn determines the male courtship behavior for the nest sites.