scholarly journals Fitness correlates of male coloration in a Lake Victoria cichlid fish

2006 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 691-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martine E. Maan ◽  
Michael van der Spoel ◽  
Paloma Quesada Jimenez ◽  
Jacques J.M. van Alphen ◽  
Ole Seehausen
Keyword(s):  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Male Coloration

scholarly journals Developmental effects of environmental light on male nuptial coloration in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Wright ◽  
Emma Rietveld ◽  
Martine E. Maan
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Nuptial Coloration ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Depth Ranges ◽  
Male Coloration

Background. Efficient communication requires that signals are well transmitted and perceived in a given environment. Natural selection therefore drives the evolution of different signals in different environments. In addition, environmental heterogeneity at small spatial or temporal scales may favour phenotypic plasticity in signaling traits, as plasticity may allow rapid adjustment of signal expression to optimize transmission. In this study, we explore signal plasticity in the nuptial coloration of Lake Victoria cichlids, Pundamilia pundamilia and Pundamilia nyererei. These two species differ in male coloration, which mediates species-assortative mating. They occur in adjacent depth ranges with different light environments. Given the close proximity of their habitats, overlapping at some locations, plasticity in male coloration could contribute to male reproductive success but interfere with reproductive isolation. Methods. We reared P. pundamilia, P. nyererei, and their hybrids under light conditions mimicking the two depth ranges in Lake Victoria. From photographs, we quantified the nuptial coloration of males, spanning the entire visible spectrum. In experiment 1, we examined developmental colour plasticity by comparing sibling males reared in each light condition. In experiment 2, we assessed colour plasticity in adulthood, by switching adult males between conditions and tracking coloration for 100 days. Results. We found that nuptial colour in Pundamilia did respond plastically to our light manipulations, but only in a limited hue range. Fish that were reared in light conditions mimicking the deeper habitat were significantly greener than those in conditions mimicking shallow waters. The species-specific nuptial colours (blue and red) did not change. When moved to the opposing light condition as adults, males did not change colour. Discussion. Our results show that species-specific nuptial colours, which are subject to strong divergent selection by female choice, are not plastic. We do find plasticity in green coloration, a response that may contribute to visual conspicuousness in darker, red-shifted light environments. These results suggest that light-environment-induced plasticity in male nuptial coloration in P. pundamilia and P. nyererei is limited and does not interfere with reproductive isolation.

scholarly journals Developmental effects of environmental light on male nuptial coloration in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Shane Wright ◽  
Emma Rietveld ◽  
Martine E. Maan
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Nuptial Coloration ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Depth Ranges ◽  
Male Coloration

BackgroundEfficient communication requires that signals are well transmitted and perceived in a given environment. Natural selection therefore drives the evolution of different signals in different environments. In addition, environmental heterogeneity at small spatial or temporal scales may favour phenotypic plasticity in signaling traits, as plasticity may allow rapid adjustment of signal expression to optimize transmission. In this study, we explore signal plasticity in the nuptial coloration of Lake Victoria cichlids,Pundamilia pundamiliaandPundamilia nyererei.These two species differ in male coloration, which mediates species-assortative mating. They occur in adjacent depth ranges with different light environments. Given the close proximity of their habitats, overlapping at some locations, plasticity in male coloration could contribute to male reproductive success but interfere with reproductive isolation.MethodsWe rearedP. pundamilia,P. nyererei,and their hybrids under light conditions mimicking the two depth ranges in Lake Victoria. From photographs, we quantified the nuptial coloration of males, spanning the entire visible spectrum. In experiment 1, we examined developmental colour plasticity by comparing sibling males reared in each light condition. In experiment 2, we assessed colour plasticity in adulthood, by switching adult males between conditions and tracking coloration for 100 days.ResultsWe found that nuptial colour inPundamiliadid respond plastically to our light manipulations, but only in a limited hue range. Fish that were reared in light conditions mimicking the deeper habitat were significantly greener than those in conditions mimicking shallow waters. The species-specific nuptial colours (blue and red) did not change. When moved to the opposing light condition as adults, males did not change colour.DiscussionOur results show that species-specific nuptial colours, which are subject to strong divergent selection by female choice, are not plastic. We do find plasticity in green coloration, a response that may contribute to visual conspicuousness in darker, red-shifted light environments. These results suggest that light-environment-induced plasticity in male nuptial coloration inP. pundamiliaandP. nyerereiis limited and does not interfere with reproductive isolation.

scholarly journals Developmental effects of environmental light on male nuptial coloration in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Wright ◽  
Emma Rietveld ◽  
Martine E. Maan
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Light Condition ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Light Conditions ◽  
Nuptial Coloration ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Depth Ranges ◽  
Male Coloration

Background. Efficient communication requires that signals are well transmitted and perceived in a given environment. Natural selection therefore drives the evolution of different signals in different environments. In addition, environmental heterogeneity at small spatial or temporal scales may favour phenotypic plasticity in signaling traits, as plasticity may allow rapid adjustment of signal expression to optimize transmission. In this study, we explore signal plasticity in the nuptial coloration of Lake Victoria cichlids, Pundamilia pundamilia and Pundamilia nyererei. These two species differ in male coloration, which mediates species-assortative mating. They occur in adjacent depth ranges with different light environments. Given the close proximity of their habitats, overlapping at some locations, plasticity in male coloration could contribute to male reproductive success but interfere with reproductive isolation. Methods. We reared P. pundamilia, P. nyererei, and their hybrids under light conditions mimicking the two depth ranges in Lake Victoria. From photographs, we quantified the nuptial coloration of males, spanning the entire visible spectrum. In experiment 1, we examined developmental colour plasticity by comparing sibling males reared in each light condition. In experiment 2, we assessed colour plasticity in adulthood, by switching adult males between conditions and tracking coloration for 100 days. Results. We found that nuptial colour in Pundamilia did respond plastically to our light manipulations, but only in a limited hue range. Fish that were reared in light conditions mimicking the deeper habitat were significantly greener than those in conditions mimicking shallow waters. The species-specific nuptial colours (blue and red) did not change. When moved to the opposing light condition as adults, males did not change colour. Discussion. Our results show that species-specific nuptial colours, which are subject to strong divergent selection by female choice, are not plastic. We do find plasticity in green coloration, a response that may contribute to visual conspicuousness in darker, red-shifted light environments. These results suggest that light-environment-induced plasticity in male nuptial coloration in P. pundamilia and P. nyererei is limited and does not interfere with reproductive isolation.

scholarly journals Visual adaptation and microhabitat choice in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 181876
Author(s):  
Daniel Mameri ◽  
Corina van Kammen ◽  
Ton G. G. Groothuis ◽  
Ole Seehausen ◽  
Martine E. Maan
Keyword(s):  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Visual Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Adaptation ◽  
Repeated Testing ◽  
Cichlid Species ◽  
Habitat Matching

When different genotypes choose different habitats to better match their phenotypes, genetic differentiation within a population may be promoted. Mating within those habitats may subsequently contribute to reproductive isolation. In cichlid fish, visual adaptation to alternative visual environments is hypothesized to contribute to speciation. Here, we investigated whether variation in visual sensitivity causes different visual habitat preferences, using two closely related cichlid species that occur at different but overlapping water depths in Lake Victoria and that differ in visual perception ( Pundamilia spp.). In addition to species differences, we explored potential effects of visual plasticity, by rearing fish in two different light conditions: broad-spectrum (mimicking shallow water) and red-shifted (mimicking deeper waters). Contrary to expectations, fish did not prefer the light environment that mimicked their typical natural habitat. Instead, we found an overall preference for the broad-spectrum environment. We also found a transient influence of the rearing condition, indicating that the assessment of microhabitat preference requires repeated testing to control for familiarity effects. Together, our results show that cichlid fish exert visual habitat preference but do not support straightforward visual habitat matching.

scholarly journals Persistence of neutral polymorphisms in Lake Victoria cichlid fish

1998 ◽  
Vol 95 (24) ◽  
pp. 14238-14243 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Nagl ◽  
H. Tichy ◽  
W. E. Mayer ◽  
N. Takahata ◽  
J. Klein
Keyword(s):  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish

Learned aggression biases in males of Lake Victoria cichlid fish

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D. Dijkstra ◽  
O. Seehausen ◽  
R.E. Fraterman ◽  
Ton G.G. Groothuis
Keyword(s):  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish

Sympatric colour polymorphisms associated with nonrandom gene flow in cichlid fish of Lake Victoria

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
pp. 3285-3300 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. S. MAGALHAES ◽  
S. MWAIKO ◽  
O. SEEHAUSEN
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Cichlid Fish
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