A mechanism for social inhibition of sexual maturation in bluegill

Social control of maturation is a common phenomenon in fishes, yet associated mechanisms are often unidentified. An examination of interactions between mature and juvenile male bluegill Lepomis macrochirus in mesocosms, isolating visual, chemical and physical interactions, suggested that chemical cues Lire responsible for inhibiting maturation of juvenile males. (C) 2003 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.