scholarly journals Environmental determinants of threespine stickleback species pair evolution and persistence

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 1983-1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad I. Ormond ◽  
Jordan S. Rosenfeld ◽  
Eric B. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Character Displacement ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Trophic Resources ◽  
Species Pairs ◽  
Resource Requirements ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Factors ◽  
Species At Risk Act

Threespine stickleback ( Gasterosteus aculeatus ) species pairs are found in four watersheds in southwestern British Columbia, Canada, and are listed as Endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act. Their origin is thought to be through a double-invasion process followed by character displacement; however, this hypothesis does not consider whether speciation is dependent on unique environmental factors necessary to support two species with separate habitat and resource requirements, which may be essential both for their evolution and persistence. To test whether species pair lakes have unique attributes, we compared abiotic and biotic factors of species pair lakes to lakes with only a single population of stickleback. There were no clear environmental differences between species pair and non-species pair lakes, but species pairs were only present in lakes with low fish species diversity, suggesting that evolution and persistence of species pairs requires a simplified fish community. Our study suggests that colonization history rather than unique lake attributes (related to either physical habitat or trophic resources) facilitated the evolution of stickleback species pairs and that the fish assemblage in lakes may affect resource availability and speciation potential as strongly as the limnological attributes of the lakes themselves.

Ecological predictions lead to the discovery of a benthic–limnetic sympatric species pair of threespine stickleback in Little Quarry Lake, British Columbia

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 564-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Gow ◽  
S. M. Rogers ◽  
M. Jackson ◽  
D. Schluter
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Morphological Differentiation ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Genetic Admixture ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Species Pairs ◽  
Quarry Lake

Sympatric species pairs of benthic and limnetic threespine stickleback ( Gasterosteus aculeatus L., 1758 complex) are an important example of the role of ecology in speciation in nature. Four endemic pairs are known and each appears to have diverged independently as a consequence of adaptation to alternative environments. Using specific ecological and physical attributes hypothesized to be important to their evolution, we focused a search for further species pairs. Now, two decades after the last discovery, we describe another benthic–limnetic species pair from Little Quarry Lake on Nelson Island, British Columbia, Canada. Bimodality of genetic admixture values provides evidence of strong reproductive isolation between two morphological and genetic clusters, supporting the existence of a sympatric species pair within this lake. Close correspondence in shape to extant benthic and limnetic species pairs confirm their status as such. The remarkable similarity between them and other benthic and limnetic species pairs in levels of morphological differentiation, as well as extent of admixture and hybridization, points to similar processes underlying their origin. This discovery serves as an important reminder of the specificity of ecological factors that promote and maintain biodiversity, as well as the value of habitat conservation.

Host mortality and variability in epizootics of Schistocephalus solidus infecting the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Parasitology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 137 (11) ◽  
pp. 1681-1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. HEINS ◽  
E. L. BIRDEN ◽  
J. A. BAKER
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Infected Fish ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Host Fish ◽  
Schistocephalus Solidus ◽  
Second Intermediate Host ◽  
Host Mortality ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Factors ◽  
Host Behaviour

SUMMARYAn analysis of the metrics of Schistocephalus solidus infection of the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, in Walby Lake, Alaska, showed that an epizootic ended between 1996 and 1998 and another occurred between 1998 and 2003. The end of the first epizootic was associated with a crash in population size of the stickleback, which serves as the second intermediate host. The likely cause of the end of that epizootic is mass mortality of host fish over winter in 1996–1997. The deleterious impact of the parasite on host reproduction and increased host predation associated with parasitic manipulation of host behaviour and morphology to facilitate transmission might also have played a role, along with unknown environmental factors acting on heavily infected fish or fish in poor condition. The second epizootic was linked to relatively high levels of prevalence and mean intensity of infection, but parasite:host mass ratios were quite low at the peak and there were no apparent mass deaths of the host. A number of abiotic and biotic factors are likely to interact to contribute to the occurrence of epizootics in S. solidus, which appear to be unstable and variable. Epizootics appear to depend on particular and, at times, rare sets of circumstances.

Effects of invasive American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) on the reproductive behaviour of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) sympatric species pairs

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (11) ◽  
pp. 1328-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.J. Velema ◽  
J.S. Rosenfeld ◽  
E.B. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Introgressive Hybridization ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Pacifastacus Leniusculus ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Signal Crayfish

Environmental change, including that caused directly or indirectly by invasive species, presents a major threat to the persistence of native freshwater biodiversity. The invasive American signal crayfish ( Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana, 1852)) has recently been implicated in the collapse of a pair of threespine stickleback ( Gasterosteus aculeatus L., 1758) species in Enos Lake, British Columbia, through introgressive hybridization; yet there are few data describing potential interactions between crayfish and these recently evolved stickleback species. We conducted a behavioural study, using an intact sympatric G. aculeatus species pair from a nearby lake, to examine if and how interactions with P. leniusculus may influence the breeding behaviour of sticklebacks. We found that the reproductive behaviour of limnetic males was disrupted to a greater degree than that of benthic males, suggesting that crayfish may disproportionately impact limnetic male reproductive success and may have contributed to biased hybridization between the Enos Lake species pair. Our study illustrates how newly differentiated taxa may be especially susceptible to environmental perturbations, particularly those caused by invasive species.

Raiding shoal size and a distraction display in male sticklebacks (Gasterosteus)

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Ridgway ◽  
J. D. McPhail
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Species Complex ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Nest Site ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Species Pairs ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks

In threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), shoals of foraging conspecifics attack the nests of parental males and consume the offspring. This type of nest predation also occurs in lakes with sympatric species pairs of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus sp.) in which benthic stickleback shoals attack the nests of parental limnetic males. We manipulated shoal size of benthic sticklebacks in Paxton and Enos lakes to determine if there is a minimum shoal size necessary before parental limnetic males will perform the spasmodic swim display, a behaviour used by parental males to lure foraging shoals away from their nest and offspring. Males showed a significant increase in display frequency beginning with shoals of eight fish. The display occurred only when there were offspring in the nest and not when the nest was empty. We interpret the display to be a foraging deception in which parental males manipulate raiding shoals into giving up their search for a food source, causing them to leave the area of the male's nest site. This distraction display appears to be widespread within the threespine stickleback species complex.

Ecology and evolution of sympatric sticklebacks (Gasterosteus): morphological and genetic evidence for a species pair in Enos Lake, British Columbia

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 1402-1408 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. McPhail
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Strait Of Georgia ◽  
Biochemical Characteristics ◽  
Species Pairs ◽  
Gill Raker

Two morphological forms of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus) coexist in Enos Lake near Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island. For convenience, the two forms are referred to as "benthics" and "limnetics." Morphological and biochemical characteristics of the two forms were examined and artificial hybrids (F1 and F2) reared in the laboratory. The two forms differ in male nuptial colour, body shape, and gill raker architecture. These differences are inherited and have remained stable for several generations. Benthics and limnetics also differ in allele frequencies at three loci (Mdh-3, Ck, and Pgm). At one of these loci (Mdh-3) the limnetic form is polymorphic and the benthic form is fixed. Since the two forms maintain themselves as discrete entities and there is no evidence of gene flow, they are considered separate biological species. It is not certain that either of these species is Gasterosteus aculeatus. Similar species pairs exist in other lakes in the Strait of Georgia region but, at present, their relationship to the species pair in Enos Lake is unknown.

Adaptive Divergence of Trophic Phenotype among Freshwater Populations of the Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 2455-2463 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Lavin ◽  
J. D. McPhail
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Drainage System ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Adaptive Divergence ◽  
Population Divergence ◽  
Foraging Success ◽  
Trophic Resources

We investigated differences in the morphological and behavioural contributions to foraging success among three morphotypes (open-water, littoral, and intermediate) of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from a single drainage system on Vancouver Island. Stomach contents from wild samples showed diet to be dependent on morphotype. Interpopulation differences in trophic morphology were associated with differences in foraging success on given prey types. The longer jaw of the bottom-browsing littoral morphotype allowed it to ingest significantly larger prey then either the intermediate or open-water populations. In addition, the littoral type spent less time manipulating benthic prey then either the open-water or intermediate morphotype. The latter observation is independent of interpopulation differences in jaw length. Both the planktivorous open-water morphotype and intermediate morphotypes were superior foragers in experiments on water column prey. The differences in water column foraging success are associated with interpopulation differences in gill raker morphology. Our results support the conclusion that inter population divergence in trophic phenotype is an adaptive response to differences in the primary trophic resources available in lakes of different morphometry.

GROWTH OF PIKE-PERCH SANDER LUCIOPERCA (L., 1758) (PERCIDAE) IN RESERVOIRS OF K. SATPAYEV’S CHANNEL

2018 ◽  
pp. 59-68
Author(s):  
Saule Zhangirovna Asylbekova ◽  
Kuanysh Baibulatovich Isbekov ◽  
Vladimir Nickolaevich Krainyuk
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Volga River ◽  
Trophic Resources ◽  
Pike Perch ◽  
The Amur River ◽  
Back Calculation ◽  
Abiotic And Biotic Factors

Pike-perch is an invader for the water basins of Central Kazakhstan. These species have stable self-reproductive populations in the regional waters. Back calculation method was used to investigate pike-perch growth rates in reservoirs of K. Satpayev’s channel. For comparison, the data from the other water bodies (Vyacheslavsky and Sherubay-Nurinsky water reservoirs) were used, as well as literature data. Pike-perch species from the investigated waters don’t show high growth rates. The populations from the reservoirs of K. Satpayev’s channel have quite similar growth rates with populations from the Amur river, from a number of reservoirs in the Volga river basin and from the reservoir in Spain. Sexual differences in growth have not been observed. Evaluating possible influence of various abiotic and biotic factors on the growth rate of pike-perch in the reservoirs of K. Satpayev’s channel was carried out. It has been stated that the availability of trophic resources cannot play a key role in growth dynamics because of their high abundance. Morphology of water bodies also does not play a role, as well as chromaticity, turbidity and other optical water indicators. It can be supposed that the main factor influencing growth of pike perch is the habitat’s temperature. This factor hardly ever approaches optimal values for the species in reservoirs of K. Satpaev’s channel. The possible influence of fishing selectivity on pike-perch growth rates was also evaluated. Currently, there has been imposed a moratorium on pike-perch catch. However, pike-perch is found in by-catches and in catches of amateur fishermen. It should be said that such seizures have an insignificant role in the dynamics of growth rates.

scholarly journals Diversity and sexual dimorphism in the head lateral line system in North Sea populations of threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus (Teleostei: Gasterosteidae)

Zoomorphology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Ahnelt ◽  
David Ramler ◽  
Maria Ø. Madsen ◽  
Lasse F. Jensen ◽  
Sonja Windhager
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
North Sea ◽  
Lateral Line ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Sensory System ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Lateral Line System ◽  
Line System ◽  
Marine Population ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks

AbstractThe mechanosensory lateral line of fishes is a flow sensing system and supports a number of behaviors, e.g. prey detection, schooling or position holding in water currents. Differences in the neuromast pattern of this sensory system reflect adaptation to divergent ecological constraints. The threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, is known for its ecological plasticity resulting in three major ecotypes, a marine type, a migrating anadromous type and a resident freshwater type. We provide the first comparative study of the pattern of the head lateral line system of North Sea populations representing these three ecotypes including a brackish spawning population. We found no distinct difference in the pattern of the head lateral line system between the three ecotypes but significant differences in neuromast numbers. The anadromous and the brackish populations had distinctly less neuromasts than their freshwater and marine conspecifics. This difference in neuromast number between marine and anadromous threespine stickleback points to differences in swimming behavior. We also found sexual dimorphism in neuromast number with males having more neuromasts than females in the anadromous, brackish and the freshwater populations. But no such dimorphism occurred in the marine population. Our results suggest that the head lateral line of the three ecotypes is under divergent hydrodynamic constraints. Additionally, sexual dimorphism points to divergent niche partitioning of males and females in the anadromous and freshwater but not in the marine populations. Our findings imply careful sampling as an important prerequisite to discern especially between anadromous and marine threespine sticklebacks.

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