Evidence for a trade-off between defensive morphology and startle-response performance in the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans)

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1147-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory M. Andraso ◽  
James N. Barron
Keyword(s):  
Escape Response ◽  
Maximum Velocity ◽  
Predation Pressure ◽  
Small Displacement ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Response Performance ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Deep Body

It is generally believed that predation pressure may drive the evolution of long spines, a robust pelvic girdle, and a deep body in sticklebacks (Pisces: Gasterosteidae). However, the lack of such traits in environments under intense predation pressure suggests that there may be a limit to which these apparently defensive structures benefit sticklebacks. In some environments, well-developed defensive structures may not increase stickleback survival, but may actually reduce fitness if there is a cost associated with them. This paper focuses on a trade-off between defensive morphology and escape-response performance in the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans). Our study of four populations of brook stickleback reveals that the population with the largest pelvic girdles and deepest bodies has a poorly developed escape response (i.e., small displacement, low maximum velocity, and low acceleration), while the population with the smallest pelvic girdles and shallowest bodies has a highly developed escape response. The two populations with intermediate defensive structures are intermediate in escape-response performance. Consideration of predation regimes in different environments may help us understand selection pressures that favor heavily versus poorly armored stickleback morphs.

Culaeatrema inconstans gen.n., sp.n. (Digenea: Alloereadiidae) from the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) in Wisconsin and observations on parthenogenetic populations

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 1328-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky A. Lasee ◽  
William F. Font ◽  
Daniel R. Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Anterior Testis ◽  
Posterior Region ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Parasitic Helminths ◽  
Reproductive Structures ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Two Populations

Culaeatrema inconstans gen.n., sp.n. is described from the intestine of Culaea inconstans (Kirtland) collected in Wisconsin. Culaeatrema is a small, fusiform, nonspinous trematode resembling both allocreadiins and bunoderins. Culaeatrema is placed in the subfamily Bunoderinae because testes are oblique in position, uterus extends into the posterior region, and vitellaria do not extend beyond the anterior testis. Reproduction in two populations of the new species from Shell and Little Waumandee creeks appears to be parthenogenetic. Parthenogenetic worms exhibited larger phenotypic size, one or both testes lacking in 84% of the examined specimens, lack of spermatozoa, and reduced development of male reproductive structures. A discussion of parthenogenesis in parasitic helminths is included.

Persistence of pelvic spine polymorphism in a panmictic population of brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) in Alberta, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 643-649
Author(s):  
J. Lowey ◽  
Q. Cheng ◽  
S.M. Rogers ◽  
J.A. Mee
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Balancing Selection ◽  
Environmental Disturbances ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Pelvic Morphology ◽  
Niche Specialization ◽  
As Species ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Two Populations

In the stickleback family (Gasterosteidae), divergence in pelvic morphology is typically associated with reproductive isolation and ecological niche specialization. In this study, we assessed whether reproductive isolation may be involved in the persistence of within-lake polymorphism in brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans (Kirtland, 1840)). We studied populations of brook stickleback in central Alberta, Canada, that are polymorphic for pelvic reduction (i.e., presence–absence of pelvic spines). We investigated the persistence of the pelvic polymorphisms over 40 generations in five lakes. We found that, of the five populations examined, the frequencies of pelvic phenotypes have remained unchanged in three populations, the polymorphism has persisted with significantly changed frequencies of pelvic phenotypes in one population, and the polymorphism has been lost in one population. Using 10 microsatellite loci, we observed low genetic divergence between individuals with and without pelvic spines in one lake, suggesting a lack of assortative mating among individuals with divergent pelvic phenotypes. This observation suggests that the pelvic polymorphism in brook stickleback persists due to balancing selection in the absence of reproductive isolation, although the selective forces were not evaluated. The significant changes in phenotypic frequencies in two populations are likely associated with environmental disturbances such as species introductions.

Geographic and morphological variation in the presence and absence of the pelvic skeleton in the brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), in Alberta and Saskatchewan

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Nelson ◽  
F. Mervyn Atton
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Fishery Management ◽  
Fish Introduction ◽  
Spine Length ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Full Development ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Presence And Absence ◽  
Skeleton Formation

Brook sticklebacks, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), are known from 20 locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan in which a high proportion of the individuals lack all or part of the pelvic skeleton. These locations are interspersed and surrounded by other locations containing individuals with a normal pelvic skeleton. Individuals which lack the skeleton are of both sexes and are fertile in at least one of the lakes.Considerable variation exists between locations in the proportion of individuals with and without the pelvic skeleton. Morphological intermediates are known from most of the 20 locations and virtually all degrees of pelvic skeleton formation exist between its absence and its full development. Little or no gradation exists, however, in pelvic spine length between their absence and presence. Although the pelvic spines are the first part of the pelvic skeleton to appear during ontogeny, they are present only in intermediates with a virtually complete skeleton base. In addition, many intermediates are highly asymmetrical in their pelvic skeleton while development during the ontogeny of normal individuals is symmetrical.There is a greater tendency for individuals in which the pelvic skeleton is deficient to occur in lakes which lack an outlet rather than to occur in lakes with a permanent outlet. An unusually high proportion of the lakes with these aberrant individuals have been subject to fishery management activities (fish introduction and poisoning), but these disturbances are not causing the loss of the pelvic skeleton.

Thermal sensitivity of escape response performance by the scallop Placopecten magellanicus: Impact of environmental history

2009 ◽  
Vol 377 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helga Guderley ◽  
Stéphanie Labbé-Giguere ◽  
Xavier Janssoone ◽  
Mélanie Bourgeois ◽  
Hernan Mauricio Pérez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental History ◽  
Escape Response ◽  
Thermal Sensitivity ◽  
Placopecten Magellanicus ◽  
Response Performance

Allozyme heterozygosity and escape response performance of the scallops, Argopecten purpuratus and Placopecten magellanicus

2011 ◽  
Vol 158 (8) ◽  
pp. 1903-1913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernán M. Pérez ◽  
Katherina B. Brokordt ◽  
Réjean Tremblay ◽  
Helga E. Guderley
Keyword(s):  
Escape Response ◽  
Placopecten Magellanicus ◽  
Argopecten Purpuratus ◽  
Response Performance

Geographic Variation in the Brook Stickleback, Culaea inconstans, and Notes on Nomenclature and Distribution

1969 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2431-2447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Variation ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Clinal Variation ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Spine Length ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Dorsal Fin ◽  
Fin Rays ◽  
Historical Origin ◽  
Brook Stickleback

Clinal variation in dorsal and pelvic spine lengths was observed in the brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans, in an examination of 1366 specimens from 62 localities. Mean spine length was longest in the Wisconsin to Ohio area and generally decreased to the west, north, and east of this area. Shortest spines were observed in the northwestern part of the range of the species. A population in New Mexico, believed to be relict, was highly variable, but most specimens had long spines. Pelvic spines, and the supporting skeleton, were absent in most specimens from five localities in Alberta. Pelvic skeleton size and body depth were generally greatest in the area east of Wisconsin and least in the northwestern part of the range. Although C. inconstans is generally described as being naked, a series of about 30–36 small bony scutes was found along the lateral line in all populations examined. No marked geographic variation was observed in number of pectoral rays, caudal rays, soft dorsal-fin rays, soft anal-fin rays, gill rakers, scutes, or vertebrae. The nomenclature and distribution of C. inconstans are reviewed. The historical origin of clinal variation in spine length is discussed.

Unusual Occurrence of the Brook Stickleback (Culaea inconstans) in the Mackenzie River, Northwest Territories

1972 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1655-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Falk
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Red River ◽  
The South ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Resident Population ◽  
Great Slave Lake ◽  
Unusual Occurrence ◽  
South Shore ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Mackenzie River

Two specimens of the brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) were taken in the mouths of Pierre and Tsital Trien creeks near Arctic Red River on the Mackenzie River during 1971. Previous most northerly published records were from the south shore of Great Slave Lake. The specimens may have been carried downstream by spring floods and may not represent a resident population.

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