Do Females in a Unisexual-Bisexual Species Complex Differ in Their Behavioral Syndromes and Cortisol Production?

Studies of suites of correlated behavioral traits (i.e., behavioral syndromes) aid in understanding the adaptive importance of behavioral evolution. Behavioral syndromes may be evolutionarily constrained, preventing behaviors from evolving independently, or they may be an adaptive result of selection on the correlation itself. We tested these hypotheses by characterizing the behavioral syndromes in two sympatric, closely related species and testing for differences between the species. We studied the unisexual Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) and one of its bisexual, parent species, the sailfin molly (P. latipinna). Sympatric female sailfin and Amazon mollies compete for mating which could affect the behavioral syndromes found in each species. We identified a behavioral syndrome between exploration and activity in both species that did not differ between species. Additionally, we explored the relationship between a stress response hormone, cortisol, and behavioral type, and did not detect a relationship. However, P. formosa differed from P. latipinna in their cortisol release rates. Behavioral syndromes may be constrained in this complex, aiding in mate acquisition for P. formosa by virtue of having a similar behavioral type to P. latipinna. The difference between the females in cortisol release rates may be a useful mate identification cue for males to offset higher mating mistakes associated with the similar behavioral types.

Phenotypic Variation in an Asexual-Sexual Fish System: Visual Lateralization

Sexual reproduction is nearly ubiquitous in the vertebrate world, yet its evolution and maintenance remain a conundrum due to the cost of males. Conversely, asexually reproducing species should enjoy a twofold population increase and thus replace sexual species all else being equal, but the prevalence of asexual species is rare. However, stable coexistence between asexuals and sexuals does occur and can shed light on the mechanisms asexuals may use in order to persist in this sex-dominated world. The asexual Amazon molly (Poecilia formosa) is required to live in sympatry with one of its sexual sperm hosts –sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) and Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana)—and are ecological equivalents to their host species in nearly every way except for reproductive method. Here, we compare the visual lateralization between Amazon mollies and sailfin mollies from San Marcos, Texas. Neither Amazon mollies nor sailfin mollies exhibited a significant eye bias. Additionally, Amazon mollies exhibited similar levels of variation in visual lateralization compared to the sailfin molly. Further investigation into the source of this variation –clonal lineages or plasticity—is needed to better understand the coexistence of this asexual-sexual system.

FIRST CONFIRMED RECORD OF AN ESTABLISHED POPULATION OF SAILFIN MOLLY, POECILIA LATIPINNA (ACTINOPTERYGII: CYPRINODONTIFORMES: POECILIIDAE), IN THE FRESHWATER AREAS OF OMAN, WITH DESCRIPTION OF AN IMPERFECT ALBINISM INCIDENCE

Among the ways that the alien can introduce to a new environment is the aquarium trade that became one of the major problem facing the existing of the native species worldwide. This study confirms the presence of an established non-native molly population in two inland water in Oman. The sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna was positively identified using the number of scales around the caudal peduncle as the main pinpointing character within the sailfin molly species complex. The study also reports on the presence of imperfect melanism incidence in one specimen of P. latipinna collected from Al-Amarat area. The causative factor of this anomaly was discussed.

Reproductive biology of sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821) in tambak Bosowa Kabupaten Maros

Sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna is one of the alien ornamental fishes in Indonesia. This fish has been found in the aquaculture area in Maros Regency, south Sulawesi as a pest. The research aimed to identify species and observe aspects of reproductive biology of sailfin molly. The study was conducted in the Bosowa Isuma aquaculture area, in Maros Regency from November 2017 to April 2018. Fish was captured using a gillnet. The catches were separated for fish identifying and reproductive biology purposes. For the observation of reproductive biology, the samples were separated by sex according to external morphology. Measurement of total length and weight using calliper (mm) and analytical scales (g), respectively. The gonads preserved in the 4% formalin solution, used for determination of gonad developmental stages and fecundity. Identification results showed that the molly fish found in the ponds was Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur 1821). The length distribution of male and female fish was 26-76 and 31-66 mm with a mean of 51 and 46 mm, respectively. Overall, sex ratio and mature gonads between male and female fish were 1: 2 and 1:10; the growth patterns of male and female were negative allometrics and isometric, respectively. This fish is spawn throughout the year with the peak of spawning in January. The number of larvae to be born (larval fecundity) ranges from 12-111 individuals with an average of ± 32 larva/female.

Identification of Loci Controlling the Dwarfism Trait in the White Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna) Using Genome-Wide Association Studies Based on Genotyping-By-Sequencing

Dwarfism is a condition defined by low harvest weight in fish, but also results in strange body figures which may have potential for the selective breeding of new ornamental fish strains. The objectives of this study are to reveal the physiological causes of dwarfism and identify the genetic loci controlling this trait in the white sailfin molly. Skeletons of dwarf and normal sailfin mollies were observed by X-ray radioscopy and skeletal staining. Genome-wide association studies based on genotyping-by-sequencing (n = 184) were used to map candidate genomic regions associated with the dwarfism trait. Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to determine the expression level of candidate genes in normal (n = 8) and dwarf (n = 8) sailfin mollies. We found that the dwarf sailfin molly has a short and dysplastic spine in comparison to the normal fish. Two regions, located at NW_015112742.1 and NW_015113621.1, were significantly associated with the dwarfism trait. The expression level of three candidate genes, ADAMTS like 1, Larp7 and PPP3CA, were significantly different between the dwarf and normal sailfin mollies in the hepatopancreas, with PPP3CA also showing significant differences in the vertebrae and Larp7 showing significant differences in the muscle. This study identified genomic regions and candidate genes associated with the dwarfism trait in the white sailfin molly and would provide a reference to determine dwarf-causing variations.

Global distribution and climatic match of a highly traded ornamental freshwater fish, the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna (Lesueur, 1821)

Predicting alien species' establishment through climate matching may inform management actions preventing future invasions. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the climate match of the sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna) worldwide, with emphasis on Europe and the Mediterranean. A literature review indicated that the species presents a total of 100 non-indigenous occurrences in 29 countries worldwide. Predominantly, it has been introduced within tropical/subtropical climatic zones, where it is usually clustered near ornamental trade centers and malaria affected areas. Overall, sailfin molly distribution reflects a warm-stenothermic tolerance, however, there are validated populations outside the subtropical belt in geothermally heated water bodies. Its invasion potential, assessed by Climatch tool, indicated a low environmental match (5% of the assessed sites) within Europe, whereas in the Mediterranean this rose to 60%, though the species is recorded only at one location. This poor match of the model's output may reflect its inability to take into account local environmental filters. Intolerance to prolonged temperature drops appears to be the leading factor constraining sailfin molly establishment in Europe. Additional constrains on its successful invasion, i.e. specialized habitat requirements, limited propagule supply or reduced reproductive fitness, due to breeding manipulations of commercially available strains, are discussed.