COURTSHIP BEHAVIOUR OF MALE THREESPINE STICKLEBACKS (GASTEROSTEUS ACULEATUS) FROM OLD AND NEW HYBRID ZONES

Behaviour ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 137 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1047-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Courtship Behaviour ◽  
Late Nineteenth Century ◽  
Hybrid Zones ◽  
Drainage Ditches ◽  
Hybrid Inviability ◽  
First Response ◽  
Isolating Mechanisms ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks ◽  
Firm Evidence

AbstractWe compared courtship behaviour of male threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from an 'old' hybrid zone (OldHZ) and 'new' hybrid zones (NewHZ) in southwest British Columbia. High frequencies of phenotypically-intermediate forms occurred in each HZ, between the low-plated freshwater (FW) and high-plated marine (MAR) forms. The OldHZ was formed early in the present post-glacial period and probably has existed for thousands of years. The 'new' HZ (NewHZ) is a system of drainage ditches built in the late nineteenth century. In the laboratory, we quantified and compared courtship behaviour (zigzags, bites, creeping through, fanning) of males from each HZ. We compared these results with those from a previous study that quantified courtship of FW and MAR males. In general, courtship of male from the NewHZ was intermediate between the FW and MAR forms, but zigzag courtship of males from the OldHZ was the significantly less vigorous. In general, other courtship behaviour (biting, fanning, gluing, crawling through and the first response) of hybrid zones males was intermediate between FW and MAR males. Within each HZ, courtship differences were not related to phenotype (lateral plates) or size of males or females. The reduced zigzag courtship of OldHZ males is consistent with the hypothesis that change in courtship behaviour of hybrid phenotypes is evidence of the development of premating isolating mechanisms between the FW and MAR forms. There is no evidence, however, of any form of hybrid inviability although we did suspect that we had less success getting OldHZ males to build nests in our laboratory tanks. Without firm evidence of some form of hybrid inviability, the conclusion that male courtship could serve as an isolating mechanism remains speculative.

Isolating Mechanisms in Threespine Sticklebacks (Gasterosteus)

1967 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1637-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. W. Hagen
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Hybrid Zone ◽  
Genetic Divergence ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
Hybrid Zones ◽  
Genetic Incompatibility ◽  
Species Definition ◽  
Isolating Mechanisms ◽  
Ecological Isolation ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks

A systematic examination was made of isolating mechanisms, as set out by Mayr, that might serve to maintain reproductive isolation between the marine (trachurus) and the freshwater (leiurus) threespine sticklebacks. Field work was conducted in a small British Columbia coastal stream, the Little Campbell River, for[Formula: see text] years and complemented with laboratory experiments. Other streams were included late in the investigation. Leiurus permanently occupies the upper reaches of the stream; trachurus is anadromous and enters the lower reaches to breed in freshwater. Between the breeding grounds of the two, where numbers of both are greatly reduced, hybridization occurs. But it is restricted to a narrow zone.The two species are easily distinguished. Thus, morphological analysis provided firm circumstantial evidence that hybrids are plentiful and that backcrossing occurs, predominately to leiurus. Hybridization was confirmed by rearing offspring under uniform conditions in the laboratory with crosses in all combinations. Such offspring were also used to demonstrate considerable genetic divergence (much of it polygenetic) between leiurus and trachurus.Behavioural experiments demonstrated the absence of ethological isolation and hybrids performed courtship and parental care normally.Nor was genetic incompatibility found in the reared hybrids (F1's or backcrosses); all were vigourous. Seasonal isolation is only partially developed with early spawning migrants of trachurus making a major contribution to hybridization (in the Little Campbell River).Since behavioural and genetic blocks to hybridization are not present, there is no means to prevent hybridization where leiurus and trachurus come together. However, coexistence between the two species is very low. Evidence from observation and experiment in the field and from preference tests showed that ecological isolation is a very powerful barrier to hybridization. The two species show numerous adaptations to the distinctly different habitats they frequent, and each shows a strong affinity for its own habitat. In localities with intermediate or contiguous habitats, coexistence and interbreeding occur. Hybridization is a function of the environment.No selection against hybrids could be detected within the hybrid zone (or with laboratory reared hybrids); yet, one is forced to assume that it is present outside the zone. The very narrow zones as well as the reversed cline that were found indicate there is intense selection against hybrids. What these selective forces are remains to be found. Hybrid zones will probably continue to be poorly understood until a critical analysis of hybrid inferiority is made.Genotypes of either species that remain in the hybrid zone are at a strong selective disadvantage. Hence, reinforcement of ecological isolation probably occurs, and Moore's criticism concerning the spread of such reinforced genotypes would not apply to such cases. Mayr distinguishes between pre- and postmating mechanisms stating that the mode of operation of natural selection will be different for the two. But in threespine sticklebacks one premating mechanism (ecological isolation) and one postmating mechanism (hybrid inferiority) cannot be distinguished. This is so because ecological isolation is the cause of hybrid inferiority.Leiurus and trachurus are reproductively isolated, have well developed isolating mechanisms, and exhibit considerable genetic divergence. The two, then, fulfill the species definition of Mayr. There is no evidence that introgression occurs. Indeed a reversed cline showing a progressive increase in morphological divergence between the two species as the hybrid zone is approached together with the narrow hybrid zone demonstrates that selection severely restricts gene flow. Collections and observations from other streams corroborate those from the study area. Reproductive isolation between leiurus and trachurus seems to be widespread, throughout their range.

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.

Effects of constant and fluctuating temperatures on egg production in the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1599-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vital Boulé ◽  
Gerard J. Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
Spawning Grounds ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks ◽  
Fluctuating Temperatures

Female threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) spend only 9–15 days on the spawning grounds, an intertidal salt marsh at Isle Verte, Quebec, during a 2-month breeding season. Individuals average only one spawning. However, in the laboratory they lay clutches of several hundred eggs every 3–5 days for several months. We designed laboratory experiments to determine (i) whether daily temperature fluctuations similar to those encountered in the marsh affect reproduction (number of clutches, number of eggs per clutch, and size of eggs) and (ii) whether the amplitude of the fluctuations encountered by the fish affects reproduction. We compared the reproduction of females held in fluctuating temperatures with that of females kept at 20 °C. Fish kept under fluctuating conditions produced more eggs per clutch but had longer interspawning intervals than those at 20 °C. Total seasonal egg production and egg size did not differ between the two groups. Fish in fluctuating temperatures survived longer and were in better condition than those at 20 °C. We conclude that the amplitude of the fluctuations is less important than mean temperature in determining reproductive performance. Fluctuating temperatures on the spawning grounds are not responsible for the short residency there.

Burst swimming and its enzymatic correlates in the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus): full-sib heritabilities

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 680-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Garenc ◽  
Frederick G Silversides ◽  
Helga Guderley
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Creatine Phosphokinase ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Biotic Interactions ◽  
Considerable Influence ◽  
Paternal Effects ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks ◽  
Burst Swimming ◽  
Intrafamilial Variability

Full-sib heritabilities of burst-swimming capacity and its enzymatic correlates were calculated in juvenile threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, from 25 families raised under constant laboratory conditions. Variation among families in burst-swimming performance, enzyme activities, body size, and condition of the juveniles was considerable. Estimates of full-sib heritabilities of absolute and relative burst-swimming performance decreased during ontogenesis, as they were higher for 2-month-old than for 3.6-month-old sticklebacks. This decline may reflect a decrease in the importance of paternal effects with age, as well as an increase in intrafamilial variability due to the existence of feeding or social hierarachies. Enzymatic correlates of burst-swimming performance measured in 3.6-month-old sticklebacks had higher full-sib heritabilities than burst-swimming performance itself, with the highest values found for cytochrome c oxidase, followed by lactate dehydrogenase and then phosphofructokinase and creatine phosphokinase. These results suggest that genetic factors may have a considerable influence upon burst-swimming performance and muscle metabolic capacities of juvenile threespine sticklebacks, but that this influence may be tempered by biotic interactions.

scholarly journals Genome Characterization, Prevalence, and Transmission Mode of a Novel Picornavirus Associated with the Threespine Stickleback Fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan A. Hahn ◽  
Nolwenn M. Dheilly
Keyword(s):  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Model System ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT The complete genome sequence of an RNA virus was assembled from RNA sequencing of virus particles purified from threespine stickleback intestine tissue samples. This new virus is most closely related to the Eel picornavirus and can be assigned to the genus Potamipivirus in the family Picornaviridae. Its unique genetic properties are enough to establish a new species, dubbed the Threespine Stickleback picornavirus (TSPV). Due to their broad geographic distribution throughout the Northern Hemisphere and parallel adaptation to freshwater, threespine sticklebacks have become a model in evolutionary ecology. Further analysis using diagnostic PCRs revealed that TSPV is highly prevalent in both anadromous and freshwater populations of threespine sticklebacks, infects almost all fish tissues, and is transmitted vertically to offspring obtained from in vitro fertilization in laboratory settings. Finally, TSPV was found in Sequence Reads Archives of transcriptome of Gasterosteus aculeatus, further demonstrating its wide distribution and unsought prevalence in samples. It is thus necessary to test the impact of TSPV on the biology of threespine sticklebacks, as this widespread virus could interfere with the behavioral, physiological, or immunological studies that employ this fish as a model system. IMPORTANCE The threespine stickleback species complex is an important model system in ecological and evolutionary studies because of the large number of isolated divergent populations that are experimentally tractable. For similar reasons, its coevolution with the cestode parasite Schistocephalus solidus, its interaction with gut microbes, and the evolution of its immune system are of growing interest. Herein we describe the discovery of an RNA virus that infects both freshwater and anadromous populations of sticklebacks. We show that the virus is transmitted vertically in laboratory settings and found it in Sequence Reads Archives, suggesting that experiments using sticklebacks were conducted in the presence of the virus. This discovery can serve as a reminder that the presence of viruses in wild-caught animals is possible, even when animals appear healthy. Regarding threespine sticklebacks, the impact of Threespine Stickleback picornavirus (TSPV) on the fish biology should be investigated further to ensure that it does not interfere with experimental results.

Reproductive-timing-dependent alternation of offspring life histories in female threespine sticklebacks

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 1314-1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshihiko Saito ◽  
Shigeru Nakano
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Reproductive Timing ◽  
Equivalent Age ◽  
Structured Population ◽  
Otolith Increments ◽  
Threespine Sticklebacks ◽  
Young Of The Year ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
Breeding Seasons

Relationships between reproductive timing of spawners and timing of hatch and age at maturity of their offspring were examined in fluvial threespine sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Some age 2 and all age 3 females matured in this age-structured population, with only a few females reproducing over two successive breeding seasons. Age 2 females spawned over the relatively long breeding season (March-August), whereas age 3 females spawned mainly early in the season (March-June). Although the standard length of mature age 3 females was greater than that of age 2 females, the back-calculated standard lengths of the former were always shorter than those of the latter at an equivalent age, the most distinct differences being apparent in young of the year. Analysis of daily otolith increments showed that the earlier the young of the year were born, the larger they were at the end of the growing season. As a result of these findings, age 3 females can be expected to produce offspring that will mature at age 2, whereas the offspring of late-spawning age 2 females are more likely to mature at age 3. Therefore, a partial alternation of life histories between generations is thought to occur.

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