Social Evolution in Anemonefishes - Dr. Peter Buston

Animal societies in which some individuals forgo their own reproduction and help others to reproduce are one of the most remarkable products of evolution. The evolution of animal societies can be usefully thought of in three stages: social group formation, the processes that bring individuals together; social group maintenance, the processes that keep individuals together; and social group transformation, the processes that convert simple groups into more complex groups. Anemonefishes form simple groups composed of a breeding pair and a small number of non-breeders. As such, they present exciting opportunities to test the robustness of current theories of social evolution and generate new insights, using relatively understudied taxa (fishes) in a relatively understudied environment (the sea). This talk reviews what is known, and what is not yet known, about anemonefish social group formation, maintenance, and transformation. This provides a framework for thinking about anemonefish social evolution, laying the foundations for future investigators as they become a model system for marine science.

Peter Buston is an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Ecology and Marine Ecology at Boston University. Generally, he works on the behavioral ecology and population ecology of coral reef fishes. Specifically, he has spent many years investigating i) social evolution in the clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula) in Papua New Guinea and ii) larval dispersal and population connectivity in the neon goby (Elacatinus lori) in Belize. His work combines long-term field studies with experimental manipulations, molecular genetics, and theoretical modeling. He uses a hypothesis driven approach to address fundamental questions at the interface of behavioral-, population-, and evolutionary ecology in marine systems.


Rock Talk #4, 2023 Season
Recorded: June 27, 2023


About Rock Talks
Our Rock Talk Seminar Series is a long-standing and well-loved tradition at SML. Historically, faculty members and guest speakers would gather with students on Appledore Island's rocky shoreline (giving the Rock Talk series its name) to present on a wide range of topics related to natural history, ecology, biology, and more. To stay connected with our community following the pandemic, we transitioned our Rock Talks online and have featured guest speakers from across the world. On our channel, you will find recordings from past seminars.


Please note: All Rock Talks begin at 8pm on Tuesdays for the 2023 season. You must register for the live presentations ahead of time, and all registration links will be shared on our website. We look forward to seeing you at our next Rock Talk!


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