J. Appl. Ichthyol.

25 (2009), 479–480 Received: September 9, 2008

 2009 The Authors Accepted: December 20, 2008
Journal compilation  2009 Blackwell Verlag GmbH doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2009.01267.x
ISSN 0175–8659

Short communication
Occurrence and intensity of intercohort cannibalism of post-hatching stages in the
broad-nosed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle
By S. Malavasi, F. Riccato, V. Georgalas, P. Franzoi and P. Torricelli

Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Università CaÕ Foscari di Venezia, Campo della Celestia, Venezia, Italy

Introduction P < 0.001; Table 1). By contrast, the proportion of cannibals

In the broad-nosed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle, males brood
their offspring in a ventral brood pouch, providing them with
nutrients and oxygen. The pregnancy is costly to the males as
they feed less and grow more slowly than females during the
breeding season (Svensson, 1988). The juvenile fish, once
completely developed, leave the pouch to lead independent
lives. At this stage, the juvenile fish can be in risk of predation,
even by conspecific adults according to field results obtained in
other related Syngnathus species (Franzoi et al., 1993; Teixeira
and Musick, 1995). This form of cannibalism has been defined
as Ôintercohort cannibalism of juvenile stagesÕ by Smith and
Reay (1991). In this study, incidence and intensity of interco-
hort cannibalism have been assessed in a sampling of a broad-
nosed pipefish population inhabiting the Venice Lagoon, at the
peak of the breeding season.
among males and immature fish did not differ (FisherÕs exact
test, N.S.; Table 1).
Females were significantly longer than immature fish and ate
significantly more juveniles (Kruskall–Wallis P < 0.01;
Fig. 1). Body length and the number of juveniles eaten were
not significantly related within each of the three groups
(Spearmann correlation, N.S.). When data were pooled, a
positive correlation was found between body length and
number of juveniles consumed (Spearman correlation,
r = 0.35 P < 0.05).
Table 1
Proportions of cannibals (fish with at least one cannibalised juvenile in
the gut), non-cannibals (no juveniles found in the gut), body size range
(SL, cm) and total number of individuals (N) in each category

% Non- Body size

%Cannibals Cannibals (SL, cm) N
Material and methods
A sample of 137 broad-nosed pipefish was obtained from a Females 57 33 12.1–22 56
single netting (beach seine: 10 m long, 2 m high, 2 mm mesh Brooding males 20 80 13.4–22.1 30
Immature 20 80 4–16.7 51
size) dragged over an area of 360 m2 in the Venice Lagoon in
August 2007, the peak of the breeding season (Riccato et al.,
2003). Fish were anesthetised with an overdose of MS222,
preserved in 10% neutral formalin and transferred to the
laboratory for gut content analysis. Conspecific juveniles could 45

be easily and univocally identified, as when they are above

40
2.1 cm body size standard length (SL) they show the same
phenotypic and morphometric traits as adult S. thyphle 35
(F. Riccato, pers. comm.). Sex of each adult was determined
Number of individulas

30
by gonadic inspection; individuals with undeveloped gonads
were classified as ÔimmatureÕ. Since only males with total or 25
partially-filled pouches were found in the sample, data were
compared across three groups: brooding males, females and 20

immature. Data were analysed both in terms of cannibalistic

15
incidence, i.e. proportions of cannibals (individuals with at
least one juvenile found in their stomachs) compared to the 10
total number of fish investigated as well as cannibalistic
5
intensity, i.e. number of juveniles eaten by cannibals in each
category. 0
bm f u bm f u
Non cannibals Cannibals

Results Fig. 1. Mean values ± standard errors of standard length (cm, white
bars) and number of juveniles eaten (dotted bars) for each category
The proportion of cannibals among females was significantly of cannibals: bm, brooding males (n = 7); f, females (n = 32);
higher than among males and immature fish (FisherÕs exact test I, immature (n = 8)

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480
Discussion
As these results are based on a single sample obtained at the
peak of the breeding season, caution is needed in data
interpretation. Overall, these results suggest that all individuals
of the Syngnathus typhle population may potentially adopt a
cannibalistic strategy. The diet of this species is based mainly
on Amphipoda of the genus Ericthonius, but also quick pelagic
organisms such as Mysidacea and Palaemonidae are repre-
sented in gut contents (Franzoi et al., 2004). Our results
suggest that the cannibalistic component might become
important when conspecific juveniles become available, as
happens at the peak of the breeding season.
Cannibalistic incidence appears to be higher in females
than in males or in immature fish. As females are known to
show higher levels of activity and feed intake than males
during the breeding season (Svensson, 1988), cannibalistic
behaviour could be the consequence of a higher encounter
probability between females and newly-hatched juveniles.
Body size seems to have a positive effect on cannibalistic
intensity, i.e. the number of juveniles eaten, confirming a
well-known pattern of cannibalistic behaviour in fish (Smith
and Reay, 1991).
Further investigations are needed to assess the spatial and
temporal variability of cannibalistic behaviour in this
species.
S. Malavasi et al.
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the Italian Ministry of University
and Scientific Research (FRA 2006).
References
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AuthorÕs address: Stefano Malavasi, Dipartimento di Scienze Ambien-
tali, Università CaÕ Foscari di Venezia, Campo della
Celestia, 2737 ⁄ b Castello, I-30122 Venezia, Italy.
E-mail: mala@unive.it
 Journal of
Applied Ichthyology
J. Appl. Ichthyol. 25 (2009), 622
Ó 2009 The Authors
Journal compilation Ó 2009 Blackwell Verlag, GmbH
ISSN 0175–8659

Erratum
Malavasi, S.; Riccato, F.; Georgalas, V.; Franzoi, P.; Torricelli, P., 2009: Occurrence and intensity of intercohort cannibalism of
post-hatching stages in the broad-nosed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle.

In the above paper, the wrong version of figure 1 was reproduced. The figure is reproduced correctly below.

Fig. 1. Mean values ± standard errors of standard length (cm, white bars) and number of juveniles eaten (dotted bars) for each
category of cannibals: bm, brooding males (n = 7); f, females (n = 32); I, immature (n = 8)

We would like to apologize for this error.

Reference
Malavasi, S.; Riccato, F.; Georgalas, V.; Franzoi, P.; Torricelli, P., 2009: Occurrence and intensity of intercohort cannibalism of post-hatching
stages in the broad-nosed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 25, 479–480.

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