scholarly journals Global distribution and climatic match of a highly traded ornamental freshwater fish, the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821)

Author(s):  
Nicholas Koutsikos ◽  
Leonidas Vardakas ◽  
Eleni Kalogianni ◽  
Alcibiades N. Economou

Predicting alien species' establishment through climate matching may inform management actions preventing future invasions. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the climate match of the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) worldwide, with emphasis on Europe and the Mediterranean. A literature review indicated that the species presents a total of 100 non-indigenous occurrences in 29 countries worldwide. Predominantly, it has been introduced within tropical/subtropical climatic zones, where it is usually clustered near ornamental trade centers and malaria affected areas. Overall, sailfin molly distribution reflects a warm-stenothermic tolerance, however, there are validated populations outside the subtropical belt in geothermally heated water bodies. Its invasion potential, assessed by Climatch tool, indicated a low environmental match (5% of the assessed sites) within Europe, whereas in the Mediterranean this rose to 60%, though the species is recorded only at one location. This poor match of the model's output may reflect its inability to take into account local environmental filters. Intolerance to prolonged temperature drops appears to be the leading factor constraining sailfin molly establishment in Europe. Additional constrains on its successful invasion, i.e. specialized habitat requirements, limited propagule supply or reduced reproductive fitness, due to breeding manipulations of commercially available strains, are discussed.

1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 2185-2191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary K. Meffe ◽  
Franklin F. Snelson Jr.

In animals, strategies of energy allocation among growth, maintenance and reproduction can be significantly altered by lipid storage. Poeciliid (livebearing) fishes store energy in late summer and fall for overwintering and first reproduction in spring, but details of energy use in reproduction are lacking. We conducted a laboratory experiment on the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) to document changes in lipid content in both the ovary and soma during development of a brood. In females of both species, ovarian lipid content was highest early in embryogeny and then declined; adult somatic lipids increased (were replenished) during embryonic development in mosquitofish, but declined in mollies. Larger clutches sequestered a larger share of body lipids in both species, possibly indicating energetic limits to reproduction. Finally, growth rate was positively correlated with somatic lipid content in both species, indicating among-individual differences in metabolic efficiency or feeding efficiency rather than a trade-off between growth and energy storage.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisèle K. Sinasson ◽  
Charlie M. Shackleton ◽  
Oscar Teka ◽  
Brice Sinsin

<p>Understanding the niche and habitat requirements of useful and threatened species, their shifts under climate change and how well protected areas (PAs) preserve these habitats is relevant for guiding sustainable management actions. Here we assessed the ecological factors underlying the distribution of two multipurpose and threatened species, <i>Mimusops andongensis</i> and <i>M</i>. <i>kummel</i>, in Benin, and potential changes in the suitable habitats covered by PAs, under climate change scenarios. Fifty seven occurrence points were collected for <i>M</i>. <i>andongensis</i> and 81 for <i>M</i>. <i>kummel</i>. </p>


2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 245-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antje Girndt ◽  
Rüdiger Riesch ◽  
Christiane Schröder ◽  
Ingo Schlupp ◽  
Martin Plath ◽  
...  

Rates of multiple paternities were investigated in the sailfin molly (Poecilialatipinna), using eight microsatellite loci. Genotyping was performed for offspring and mothers in 40 broods from four allopatric populations from the south-eastern U.S.A. along a geographic stretch of 1200 km in west-east direction and approximately 200 km from north to south. No significant differences regarding rates of multiple paternities were found between populations despite sample populations stemming from ecologically divergent habitats. Even the most conservative statistical approach revealed a minimum of 70% of the broods being sired by at least two males, with an average of 1.80-2.95 putative fathers per brood. Within broods, one male typically sired far more offspring than would be expected under an assumed equal probability of all detected males siring offspring.


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