Some notes on small kelp forest fish collected fromSaccorhiza polyschidesbulbs on the Isle of Cumbrae Scotland

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Abstract
Some preliminary work on the biology of three small fish species, the small-headed cling fish, Apletodon microcephalus; the two-spotted goby, Gobiusculus flavescens; and Montagu's sea snail, Liparis montagui is described. The major component in the diet of all three species was found to be domicolous amphipods. The three species show different activity patterns and different hunting behaviours. Apletodon is a day active searcher, Gobiusculus a day active persuer, whilst Liparis is night active and an ambusher. Some observations of breeding in Apletodon and Gobiusculus have been made. In both the males defend a nest, typically in the bulbous holdfast of the kelp, Saccorhiza polyschides. Nest guarding and tending behaviour in Gobiusculus is energetic whilst in Apletodon it seems to be largely passive. Several females contribute eggs to these nests and a female can lay several batches of eggs through the season. In Apletodon brood size was found to correlate with the size of the male attending it.