scholarly journals Reproductive phenology across the lunar cycle: parental decisions, offspring responses, and consequences for reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shima ◽  
CW Osenberg ◽  
SH Alonzo ◽  
EG Noonburg ◽  
P Mitterwallner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
New Moon

© 2020 by the Ecological Society of America Most organisms reproduce in a dynamic environment, and life-history theory predicts that this can favor the evolution of strategies that capitalize on good times and avoid bad times. When offspring experience these environmental changes, fitness can depend strongly upon environmental conditions at birth and at later life stages. Consequently, fitness will be influenced by the reproductive decisions of parents (i.e., birth date effects) and developmental decisions (e.g., adaptive plasticity) of their offspring. We explored the consequences of these decisions using a highly iteroparous coral reef fish (the sixbar wrasse, Thalassoma hardwicke) and in a system where both parental and offspring environments vary with the lunar cycle. We tested the hypotheses that (1) reproductive patterns and offspring survival vary across the lunar cycle and (2) offspring exhibit adaptive plasticity in development time. We evaluated temporal variation in egg production from February to June 2017, and corresponding larval developmental histories (inferred from otolith microstructure) of successful settlers and surviving juveniles that were spawned during that same period. We documented lunar-cyclic variation in egg production (most eggs were spawned at the new moon). This pattern was at odds with the distribution of birth dates of settlers and surviving juveniles—most individuals that successfully survived to settlement and older stages were born during the full moon. Consequently, the probability of survival across the larval stage was greatest for offspring born close to the full moon, when egg production was at its lowest. Offspring also exhibited plasticity in developmental duration, adjusting their age at settlement to settle during darker portions of the lunar cycle than expected given their birth date. Offspring born near the new moon tended to be older and larger at settlement, and these traits conveyed a strong fitness advantage (i.e., a carryover effect) through to adulthood. We speculate that these effects (1) are shaped by a dynamic landscape of risk and reward determined by moonlight, which differentially influences adults and offspring, and (2) can explain the evolution of extreme iteroparity in sixbars.

scholarly journals Reproductive phenology across the lunar cycle: parental decisions, offspring responses, and consequences for reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shima ◽  
CW Osenberg ◽  
SH Alonzo ◽  
EG Noonburg ◽  
P Mitterwallner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Birth Date ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
New Moon

© 2020 by the Ecological Society of America Most organisms reproduce in a dynamic environment, and life-history theory predicts that this can favor the evolution of strategies that capitalize on good times and avoid bad times. When offspring experience these environmental changes, fitness can depend strongly upon environmental conditions at birth and at later life stages. Consequently, fitness will be influenced by the reproductive decisions of parents (i.e., birth date effects) and developmental decisions (e.g., adaptive plasticity) of their offspring. We explored the consequences of these decisions using a highly iteroparous coral reef fish (the sixbar wrasse, Thalassoma hardwicke) and in a system where both parental and offspring environments vary with the lunar cycle. We tested the hypotheses that (1) reproductive patterns and offspring survival vary across the lunar cycle and (2) offspring exhibit adaptive plasticity in development time. We evaluated temporal variation in egg production from February to June 2017, and corresponding larval developmental histories (inferred from otolith microstructure) of successful settlers and surviving juveniles that were spawned during that same period. We documented lunar-cyclic variation in egg production (most eggs were spawned at the new moon). This pattern was at odds with the distribution of birth dates of settlers and surviving juveniles—most individuals that successfully survived to settlement and older stages were born during the full moon. Consequently, the probability of survival across the larval stage was greatest for offspring born close to the full moon, when egg production was at its lowest. Offspring also exhibited plasticity in developmental duration, adjusting their age at settlement to settle during darker portions of the lunar cycle than expected given their birth date. Offspring born near the new moon tended to be older and larger at settlement, and these traits conveyed a strong fitness advantage (i.e., a carryover effect) through to adulthood. We speculate that these effects (1) are shaped by a dynamic landscape of risk and reward determined by moonlight, which differentially influences adults and offspring, and (2) can explain the evolution of extreme iteroparity in sixbars.

scholarly journals Born at the right time? A conceptual framework linking reproduction, development, and settlement in reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shima ◽  
EG Noonburg ◽  
SE Swearer ◽  
SH Alonzo ◽  
CW Osenberg
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Larval Settlement ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Ecological Society ◽  
Thalassoma Hardwicke ◽  
The Right

© 2017 by the Ecological Society of America Parents are expected to make decisions about reproductive timing and investment that maximize their own fitness, even if this does not maximize the fitness of each individual offspring. When offspring survival is uncertain, selection typically favors iteroparity, which means that offspring born at some times can be disadvantaged, while others get lucky. The eventual fate of offspring may be further modified by their own decisions. Are fates of offspring set by birthdates (i.e., determined by parents), or can offspring improve upon the cards they've been dealt? If so, do we see adaptive plasticity in the developmental timing of offspring? We evaluate these questions for a coral reef fish (the sixbar wrasse, Thalassoma hardwicke) that is characterized by extreme iteroparity and flexible larval development. Specifically, we monitored larval settlement to 192 small reefs over 11 lunar months and found that most fish settled during new moons of a lunar cycle (consistent with preferential settlement on dark nights). Settlement was significantly lower than expected by chance during the full moon and last quarter of the lunar cycle (consistent with avoidance of bright nights). Survival after settlement was greatest for fish that settled during times of decreasing lunar illumination (from last quarter to new moon). Fish that settled on the last quarter of the lunar cycle were ~10% larger than fish that settled during other periods, suggesting larvae delay settlement to avoid the full moon. These results are consistent with a numerical model that predicts plasticity in larval development time that enables avoidance of settlement during bright periods. Collectively, our results suggest that fish with inauspicious birthdates may alter their developmental trajectories to settle at better times. We speculate that such interactions between parent and offspring strategies may reinforce the evolution of extreme iteroparity and drive population dynamics, by increasing the survival of offspring born at the “wrong” time by allowing them to avoid the riskiest times of settlement.

scholarly journals Born at the right time? A conceptual framework linking reproduction, development, and settlement in reef fish

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shima ◽  
EG Noonburg ◽  
SE Swearer ◽  
SH Alonzo ◽  
CW Osenberg
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Developmental Trajectories ◽  
Larval Settlement ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Ecological Society ◽  
Thalassoma Hardwicke ◽  
The Right

© 2017 by the Ecological Society of America Parents are expected to make decisions about reproductive timing and investment that maximize their own fitness, even if this does not maximize the fitness of each individual offspring. When offspring survival is uncertain, selection typically favors iteroparity, which means that offspring born at some times can be disadvantaged, while others get lucky. The eventual fate of offspring may be further modified by their own decisions. Are fates of offspring set by birthdates (i.e., determined by parents), or can offspring improve upon the cards they've been dealt? If so, do we see adaptive plasticity in the developmental timing of offspring? We evaluate these questions for a coral reef fish (the sixbar wrasse, Thalassoma hardwicke) that is characterized by extreme iteroparity and flexible larval development. Specifically, we monitored larval settlement to 192 small reefs over 11 lunar months and found that most fish settled during new moons of a lunar cycle (consistent with preferential settlement on dark nights). Settlement was significantly lower than expected by chance during the full moon and last quarter of the lunar cycle (consistent with avoidance of bright nights). Survival after settlement was greatest for fish that settled during times of decreasing lunar illumination (from last quarter to new moon). Fish that settled on the last quarter of the lunar cycle were ~10% larger than fish that settled during other periods, suggesting larvae delay settlement to avoid the full moon. These results are consistent with a numerical model that predicts plasticity in larval development time that enables avoidance of settlement during bright periods. Collectively, our results suggest that fish with inauspicious birthdates may alter their developmental trajectories to settle at better times. We speculate that such interactions between parent and offspring strategies may reinforce the evolution of extreme iteroparity and drive population dynamics, by increasing the survival of offspring born at the “wrong” time by allowing them to avoid the riskiest times of settlement.

Lunar Cycle Influences Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Brahman Cows Under Tropical Conditions

2021 ◽  
pp. 074873042098363
Author(s):  
Alejandro A. Aguirre ◽  
Roberto A. Palomares ◽  
Aitor D. De Ondiz ◽  
Eleazar R. Soto ◽  
Mariana S. Perea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Lunar Phases ◽  
Tropical Conditions ◽  
Service Conception ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Postpartum Estrus

Evidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system. Data from 5869 reproductive records from two commercial farms localized in the Maracaibo Lake Basin of Zulia State, Venezuela, were analyzed. Variables studied were first service conception rate, calving frequency, first postpartum estrous frequency, and pregnancy frequency. In addition to the lunar cycle, the effects of farm, season, and predominant breed were also considered. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model from SAS. First service conception was affected by lunar phases and predominant breed, but not by farm or season. For frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy, there was no main effect of farm, season, and predominant breed, whereas the effect of lunar phases was highly significant. First service conception was significantly greater in waning than in crescent phase of the lunar cycle. Frequencies of calving, first estrus, and pregnancy were highly correlated and showed greater figures around full moon and new moon. In conclusion, lunar cycle influenced first service conception, attaining greater values in the waning phase of the moon cycle. Frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy in crossbred cows showed a clear bimodal rhythm, whose greatest values coincided with new moon and full moon.

scholarly journals Lunar periodicity in catch rate and reproductive condition of adult eastern king prawns, Penaeus plebejus, in coastal waters of south-eastern Queensland, Australia

1996 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Courtney ◽  
DJ Die ◽  
JG McGilvray
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Catch Rate ◽  
Lunar Phase ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Ovary Weight ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Catch Rates

This study examined the lunar and die1 variation in catch rates and reproductive condition of adult eastern king prawns, Penaeus plebejus, in relatively deep (160 m) coastal waters off south- eastern Queensland. Females numerically dominated catches over most of the lunar cycle and constituted 76% of the weight of the catch. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed an interaction between lunar phase and sex; catches peaked during Lunar Phase 3 (full moon � 3 days) and were particularly marked for males. This was the only period during the lunar cycle when the sex ratio approached 1 : 1. There was also an interaction between trawl-time and sex; male catch rates were at a minimum early in the evening, whereas female catch rates were at a maximum then and declined throughout the night. Trawler logbook catch rate data from the same area over a similar period indicated an interaction between lunar cycle and lunar phase. ANOVA revealed an effect of the interaction between phase and sex on the incidence of soft prawns; the incidence of soft males increased during Phase 4 (half moon waning to new moon � 3 days). Ovary weight also varied between phases and was higher during Phases 2 (half moon waxing to full moon � 3 days) and 4 (half moon waning to new moon � 3 days). Trends in the ovary weight and the incidence of histologically mature and ripe females suggested there are two periods of increased spawning activity during each lunar cycle. A cyclic regression fitted to the data explained 93% of the variation in the incidence of ripe females between samples. The influence of these cyclic trends in catch rate and reproductive condition should be considered when monitoring the spawning stock in the fishery and when planning sampling strategies in any future reproductive studies.

scholarly journals TIMING OF LARVAL RELEASE BY REEF CORAL Pocillopora damicornis AT PANJANG ISLAND, CENTRAL JAVA

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Munasik ◽  
Suharsono ◽  
J. Situmorang ◽  
H. N. Kamiso
Keyword(s):  
Full Moon ◽  
Reef Coral ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Tidal Range ◽  
Pocillopora Damicornis ◽  
Larval Release ◽  
Double Peaks ◽  
Central Java ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Peak Release

Monthly larval release by the coral Pocillopora damicornis at Panjang Island, Central Java was investigated. Corals were collected from windward and leeward and maintained in outdoor, flow-trough system to quantify nightly release of larvae. Larval release of the coral occurs every month throughout the year, and its planulation increased during dry monsoon. Monthly planulation occurs from new moon to full moon and possesses in different pattern between single and paired colonies. Planulation in paired colonies occurred in single peak and more synchronized in each colony however single colonies planulated in double peaks and less synchronized in each colony. This study confirmed that planulation period of P. damicornis at Panjang Island over a range of lunar phases with shorter periods of peak release which predominantly controlling by tidal range rather than lunar cycle.

scholarly journals On certain variations of the mean height of the barometer, mean temperature and depth of rain, connected with the lunar phases, in the cycle of years from 1815 to 1823

1843 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 211-211
Keyword(s):  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Lunar Phase ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Lunar Phases ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
The Mean ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Made In

The table given in this paper contains the results of calculations relating to the objects specified in the title; cast into periods of six, seven, or eight days, so as to bring the day of the lunar phase belonging to it in the middle of the time. The observations were all made in the neighbourhood of London. It appears from them that in the period of the last quarter of the moon the barometer is highest, the temperature a little above the mean, and the depth of rain the smallest. In the period of the new moon, both the barometer and temperature are considerably depressed, and the rain increased in quantity. The influence of the first quarter shows itself by the further depression of the barometer; but the temperature rises almost to the point from which it had fallen, and the rain still increases, but not in an equal ratio. Lastly, the full moon again reduces the temperature; while the barometer attains its maximum mean height, and the quantity of rain is the greatest. Thus it appears, that during this lunar cycle, the approach of the last quarter is the signal for the clearing up of the air, and the return of sunshine.

The biting habits of Culicoides furens (Poey) and C. barbosai Wirth & Blanton. III. Seasonal cycle, with a note on the relative importance of ten factors that might influence the biting rate

1972 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 565-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. S. Kettle
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Cycle ◽  
Full Moon ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Illumination Time ◽  
Biting Rate ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Phases Of The Moon ◽  
Cycle Temperature

The biting rates of Culicoides furens (Poey) and C. barbosai Wirth & Blanton on Florida Beach, Jamaica, were observed in 50 trials conducted 40–115 min after dawn from 5 February 1960 to 10 February 1961. The data were logarithmically transformed and non-zero biting rates standardised. Biting rates of both species varied markedly from week to week but monthly mean rates were significantly higher and lower for C. furens in September (111·4) and March (13·7), respectively. Monthly mean rates for C. barbosai fell into three groups, (i) March-June (15·3); (ii) November–December (9·1); (iii) January–February and July–October (3·1). These changes were negatively correlated with mean sea level. Biting rates of C. barbosai were highest at new moon (10·3) and lower but similar (4·3–5·2) for the other three phases of the moon. Those of C. furens were maximal at new moon (62·8), minimal at full moon (20·4) and intermediate (35·9, 39·5) at the quarters. The lunar effect is assumed to act through the tides. There were no significant differences between the standardised biting rates at different times after dawn. In a comparison of the quantitative effects of ten factors on the biting rates of C. furens, C. barbosai and Leptoconops becquaerti (Kieff.), most important were month of year and wind speed; of less importance were lunar cycle, temperature, collector and limb exposed; while site position, intensity of illumination, time after dawn, saturation deficit were of minor or no importance. It is concluded that the biting rate of L. becquaerti should be the least affected by changes in these factors, C. barbosai more affected and C. furens most affected.

scholarly journals Reproductive phenology across the lunar cycle: parental decisions, offspring responses, and consequences for reef fish

Ecology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Shima ◽  
Craig W. Osenberg ◽  
Suzanne H. Alonzo ◽  
Erik G. Noonburg ◽  
Pauline Mitterwallner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reef Fish ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Parental Decisions

scholarly journals Abundance of early life stages of the surf silverside Notocheirus hubbsi (Teleostei, Atheriniformes) in the coastal nearshore of central Chile

2021 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Francisca Zavala-Muñoz ◽  
Mauricio F. Landaeta ◽  
Valentina Bernal-Durán ◽  
Claudia A. Bustos ◽  
Bryan S. Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Full Moon ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Lunar Cycle ◽  
Early Life Stages ◽  
Entire Study Period ◽  
Austral Spring ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
New Moon ◽  
Set Up

The abundance of early stages of the surf silverside Notocheirus hubbsi in nearshore waters of central Chile, collected in samplings set up to assess the lunar cycle during austral spring and summer is reported. A total of 19 specimens were collected with light traps, 16 larvae (7.89-16.20 mm SL) in austral spring and 3 juveniles (30.70-34.60 mm SL) in summer. Capture per unit effort (CPUE) varied from 0.33 to 2.00 ind. light trap-1 night-1 during the entire study period (September 2015-February 2016, and September 2016-February 2017). N. hubbsi catches recorded maximum abundance during the new moon and no catches during full moon.

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