Life cycle and phenology
Breeding season occurs annually from May to September. [6] Individuals of Bellapiscis lelseyae do not form monogamous mating pairs. [8] Females of B. lesleyae take no role in brood care. [3] Males of B. lesleyae court females by aggressive displays of defence in their territory and shows of colouration. [3] Courting displays occur at the beginning of the breeding season and males will lure one or more females into their territory. [3] Females prefer larger males with inviting displays.
B. lesleyae reproduce through external fertilization. [9] Males must provide a substratum for females to deposit eggs. [6] The substratum must provide shelter and protection from disturbance and predation. [6] Once a substratum is selected, the male will release sperm to fertilize deposited eggs. Females of B. lesleyae deposit batches of eggs ranging from hundreds to thousands. [9] Nesting sites can contain eggs laid by more than one female. [8] Observations of habitat use in triplefins including B. lesleyae documented their selection in fine-scale habitats for nesting, such as the sides of rocks or boulders and upside down on the roof of overhangs. [6] B. lesleyae also lay eggs in empty barnacle shells. [3] Overhangs provide less exposure to predatory activity, and rocks and boulders supply gentle currents that can oxygenate eggs without dislodging them. [6] The eggs contain filaments on the outside that can stick to various structures. [10] Males of B. lesleyae are territorial and guard nesting sites. [3]
Individuals of Bellapiscis lesleyae can live for up to 3-4 years. [3] Three to four generations of B. lesleyae can be present in one year. Eggs hatch in the form of larvae. [10] The larvae are planktonic and will float in the water column until they drift to the bottom to settle into a habitat – the pelagic phase. [10] The larvae have highly developed sensory systems in their late stage of growth. Larvae can respond to reef sounds, chemical cues, and floating objects. [10] At this stage in development, larvae are at their competent stage. [10] Larvae have variation in their settlement times, as restrictions of a suitable habitat can delay settlement. [10] Some larvae stay in the pelagic phase longer than others. [10] Bellapiscis lesleyae has an extended pelagic larval duration averaging 55.6 days. Overall, pelagic larval duration can range from 41 to 114 days based on environmental conditions. [10]
Juveniles of Bellapiscis lesleyae settle in the intertidal zone among rocky reefs, tidepools, and seagrass beds between August and December. [10] They are solitary fish and do not migrate. [3] Juveniles reach sexual maturity the same year they grow to a size of roughly 40-45 mm. [3] As juveniles grow, they establish defined adult behaviors and home ranges. [10] A juvenile's diet consists of smaller crustaceans, invertebrates, and zooplankton. [10] Over time, a juvenile's prey will become larger due to the increasing demand for energy needed to grow. [10]
Predators, parasites and diseases
There is limited research on predators, diseases and parasites of Bellapiscis lesleyae. However, closely related species in Tripterygiidae have been studied. Triplefin species were discovered as a more common host for larval parasites in comparison to other fish. [12] The parasites live in triplefins as juveniles (larvae), making triplefins an intermediate host. [12] The definitive host for the parasite is larger predators such a birds or fish that will consume triplefins. [12]
Seven closely related species to Bellapiscis lesleyae within the triplefin family were observed with abnormal skeletal structures that caused limitations in growth, development and survival. [13] Deformities consisted of scoliosis (lateral curving of the spine), lordosis (ventral curvature), kyphosis (dorsal curvature), and ankylosis (fusion of the vertebrae). [13] Although abnormal skeletal structures are not considered a disease, they can result from diseases or abiotic factors such as temperature, salinity, pH, low oxygen concentration and pollution. [13]
