Biology Of Gobies, The

Description: Among all vertebrates, gobies are second in diversity only to the teleost family Cyprinidae. The Gobiidae consists of more than 200 genera and nearly 2,000 species and make up the largest family of marine fishes. Gobies account for as much as 50% of the energy flow in coral reef communities. Their small size, ability to adapt to numerous ecological niches and to be bred in aquaria has led to numerous studies both in the field and laboratory. Gobies are found from above the high tide line to depths of over 1,100 m. Some species are found only within caves, others deep inside sponges, and some others climb waterfalls to return to their native streams. They vary reproductively from gonochoric to hermaphrodite, monogamy to polygyny and promiscuity, some have short life spans and reproduce only once while others have longer life spans reproducing one or more times per year. The Biology of Gobies written by over 30 experts from 15 countries summarizes what is known about the systematics, ecology, zoogeography, and general biology of the Gobiiformes. This foundation will provide the basic information necessary for future studies.

Contents: SECTION 1: SYSTEMATICS A History of Gobioid Morphological Systematics: James L. Van Tassell, Luke Tornabene and Michael S. Taylor Molecular Systematics of Gobioid Fishes: Lukas Ruber and Ainhoa Agorreta Systematics of Rhyacichthyidae: Helen K. Larson Systematics of Odontobutidae: Akihisa lwata Systematics of Butidaeand Eleotridae: Christine Thacker Systematics of Gobionellidae: Frank Pezold Systematics of Oxudercinae: Edward Murdy Systematics of Amblyopinae: Edward Murdy Systematics of Sicydiinae: Philippe Keith and Clara Lord Systematics of Gobiidae: Christine Thackekr SECTION 2: ZOOGEOGRAPHY Gobiidae of the Americas: James L. Van Tassell North-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Gobies: Marcelo Kovacic and Robert A. Patzner Diversity and Distribution of Marine, Euryhaline and Amphidromous Gobies fromWestern, Central and SouthernAfrica: Ulrich K. Schliewen The Marine Temperate Gobioids of Southern Australia and the New Zealand Region: Helen K. Larson Tropical Freshwater Gobies: Amphidromy as a Life Cycle: Philippe Keith and Clara Lord Diversity and Distribution of Freshwater Gobies from the Mediterranean, the Black and Caspian Seas: Jorg Freyhof SECTION 3: GENERAL BIOLOGY Gobies as Predator and Prey: C. Dieter Zander Morphological Adaptations to Special Environments of Gobies: C. Dieter Zander Morphological Organization and Variability of the Reproductive Apparatus in Gobies: Carlotta Mazzoldi Robert A. Patzner and Maria B. Rasotto Early Development of Gobies: Rita Borges; Claudia Faria; Fatima Gil and Emanuel J. Goncalves SECTION 4: ECOLOGY Planktonic and Paedomorphic Gobioids: Mario La Mesa Gobies on Coral Reefs: Juergen Herler Philip L. Munday and Vanessa Hernaman Gobies as Cleaners: Isabelle M. Cote and Marta C. Soares The Partnership between Gobiid Fishes and Burrowing Alpheid Shrimps: Ilan Karplus and Andrew Richard Thompson Mudskippers: Front Runners in the Modern Invasion of Land: Atsushi Ishimatsu and Tomas T. Gonzales