Context-dependent multimodal behaviour in a coral reef fish: Stage 1 & 2 total duration and count data in behaviour trials

Animals are expected to respond flexibly to changing circumstances, with multimodal signalling providing potential plasticity in social interactions. Whilst numerous studies have documented context-dependent behavioural trade-offs in terrestrial species, far less work has considered such decision-making in fish, especially in natural conditions. Coral reef ecosystems host 25% of all known marine species, making them hotbeds of competition and predation. We conducted experiments with wild Ambon damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) to investigate context-dependent responses to a conspecific intruder; specifically, how nest defence is influenced by an elevated predation risk. We found that nest-defending male Ambon damselfish responded aggressively to a conspecific intruder, spending less time sheltering and more time interacting, as well as signalling both visually and acoustically. In the presence of a model predator compared to a model herbivore, males spent less time interacting with t..., We recorded behaviours of Ambon damselfish using GoPro cameras. From the GoPro footage of each trial, we coded the behaviour available in this dataset using Behavioural Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS) version 8.0.9. We scored time spent by the focal male sheltering (in the nest or adjacent rubble) and interacting with the intruder (within two body lengths of it); when it was interacting, we scored the number of aggressive acts (chasing, striking, darting) directed at the intruder. The time when the focal fish was not in view was also recorded. From a signalling perspective, we scored the time visually displaying (extending the anal and dorsal fin and/or fanning the tail towards the intruder) and counted occurrences of single or multiple pulses (vocal “syllables” within 1 s of each other) of aggressive “wipe” and “knock” vocalisations., , # Context-dependent multimodal behaviour in a coral reef fish: Stage 1 & 2 total duration and count data in behaviour trials

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.44j0zpcn9](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.44j0zpcn9)

This dataset contains the proportions and rates of behaviours extracted (using Behavioural Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS) version 8.0.9) from underwater cameras recording behavioural responses of the Ambon Damselfish to 1) a conspecific intruder in a bag vs an empty bag (as a control) and 2) a conspecific intruder in a bag alongside a model predator vs a model herbivore (as a control).

## Description of the data and file structure

Data is split into two .csv files (one for Stage 1 and one for Stage 2). Each stage also has the scripts available from R studio version 1.4.1103 used to analyse the data (notes explaining the steps are included in the scripts themselves). Present in the data files is:

\"Site\": refers to a general location across the field site w...