Trade offs between mating and predator avoidance advantages were studied in the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis: Poeciliidae). When tested with green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) predators, larger male G. affinis were found to have a higher number of escapes compared to smaller males. Smaller males were captured more often than larger males in groups of six and in both complex and simple habitat types. Large males, on average, were found to attempt more matings and spend a larger proportion of time near the female than smaller males. When trials with predators were compared to trials without predators, large males decreased mating attempts and time spent near the female although, small males increased time spent near females. Size of the predator did not affect these behaviors. Fry were reared under varying levels of predator exposure (visual, olfactory, both, or neither) and predation response was measured for each group at maturity. Results were not significant and were confounded by G. affinis size.

Thesis (M.S.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-72).

Phenotypic plasticity is an environmentally based change in phenotype and can be adaptive. Often, the change in an organism's phenotype is induced by the presence of a predator and serves as a defense against that predator. Defensive phenotypes are induced in freshwater physid snails in response to both crayfish and molluscivorous fish. Alternative morphologies are produced depending on which of these two predators snails are raised with, thus protecting them from each of these predators' unique mode of predation. Snails and other mollusks have been shown to produce thicker, differently shaped shells when found with predators relative to those found without predators. This production of thicker, differently shaped shells offers better protection against predators because of increased predator resistance. The first study in this thesis explores costs and limits to plasticity using the snailfish- crayfish system. I exposed juvenile physid snails (using a family structure) to either early or late shifts in predation regimes to assess whether developmental flexibility is equally possible early and late in development. Physid snails were observed to produce alternative defensive morphologies when raised in the presence of each of the two predators. All families responded similarly to the environment in which they were raised. Morphology was found to be heritable, but plasticity itself was not heritable. Morphology was found to become less flexible as snails progressed along their respective developmental pathways. In the second study, I raised physid snails with and without shell-crushing sunfish and examined the differences in shell thickness, shell mass, shell size and shell microstructural properties between the two treatment groups. Shells of snails raised with predators were found to be larger, thicker and more massive than those raised without predators, but differences in microstructure were found to be insignificant. I conclude that the observed shell thickening is accomplished by the snails' depositing more of the same material into their shells and not by producing a more complex shell composition.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 1999. / Title from title page screen, viewed July 24, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Steven A. Juliano (chair), Wayne A. Riddle, Scott K. Sakaluk, Charles F. Thompson, Douglas W. Whitman. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 126-133) and abstract. Also available in print.

L'étude de la reproduction chez les téléostéens est fondamentale pour comprendre le devenir des populations ichtyologiques déterminantes pour l'équilibre des milieux aquatiques, et ce, dans un contexte de changement climatique global qui aura pour effet de modifier les aires de répartitions des espèces ainsi que leurs stratégies de reproduction afin de garantir la survie de la progéniture. La maturation sexuelle de la perche soleil (Lepomis gibbosus), à partir d'un échantillon de162 femelles et 157 mâles, a été étudiée dans une retenue artificielle du Nord-Est de la France (réservoir du Mirgenbach) recevant les eaux échauffées de la centrale électronucléaire de Cattenom. La perche soleil, de la famille des centrarchidés, est originaire d'Amérique du Nord et a été introduite en Europe en 1880. Depuis son introduction, elle a colonisé tout le réseau hydrographique français. Cette espèce, occupant la zone littorale, est actuellement présente dans 28 pays d'Europe et d'Asie mineure, mais elle n'est considérée invasive que dans le sud et le centre de l'Europe. Dans la présente étude, l'effort de reproduction a été étudié chez les femelles et les mâles, à partir de l'indice gonado-somatique (IGS) et de profils de maturité gonadique, définis à partir d'observations histologiques. Les données acquises concernent, d'autre part, la croissance et la longévité de cette espèce dans ce cas particulier d'écosystème échauffé. Dans ce contexte, la maturation sexuelle est précoce par rapport aux autres populations de perches soleil localisées à des latitudes similaires. (Age de maturité : 1 an), et les mâles entrent en maturation un mois avant les femelles. La croissance des juvéniles est rapide (LT>70mm à 1 an), excepté chez les petits mâles cocufiants, mais la longévité (3 ans) est inférieure à celles rencontrées dans d'autres sites d'Europe (4 à 8 ans). Cette précocité a également été observée chez d'autres espèces dans des sites d'Europe recevant des eaux échauffées, cependant des anomalies ovocytaires avaient été observées, ce qui n'est pas le cas pour les individus du réservoir du Mirgenbach. De part ses conditions thermiques, le réservoir du Mirgenbach constitue un modèle intéressant pour étudier les conséquences du changement climatique global sur la biologie des poissons / The study of teleost reproduction is fundamental in order to understand the future of ichthyologic populations, determinant for the balance in aquatic environments, and this, in a context of global warming which will affect distribution zones of species as well as their reproductive strategies in order to guarantee survival of their progeny. Sexual maturation in pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) has been studied in an artificial basin in north-eastern France (Mirgenbach Reservoir) which receives over-heated water from the Cattenom nuclear power plant. Pumpkinseed, a centrarchid fish specie, is native to North America but has been introduced in Europe in 1880. Since its introduction, it has colonized the entire French hydrographic network. This specie, predominantly littoral, is already established in at least 28 countries in Europe and Asia Minor, but is currently considered to be invasive mainly in southern and central Europe. In our study, the reproductive effort was studied in both sex, using gonado-somatic index (GSI) and gonadal maturity stages obtained from histological observations. Growth and longevity have also been studied. A sample of 162 females and 157 males was collected for this work. In this context of warm thermal environment, sexual maturation is precocious compared to other pumpkinseed populations located at similar latitudes (age at maturity: 1 year), and the males mature one month before the females. The juvenile growth rate is high (LT>70mm at 1 year old), except for the small male cuckolders, but longevity (3 years) is lower than at the other sites in Europe (4 to 8 years). This precocity was also observed in other species at sites receiving over-heated nuclear plant discharge water, however oocyte abnormalities were observed which was not the case for the pumpkinseed population in the Reservoir Mirgenbach. The thermal conditions of the Mirgenbach Reservoir confer to this site a good opportunity to evaluate the consequences of the Global Warming on fish biology

No description available.

More than half the North American freshwater mussel species in the family Unionidae (unionids) are imperiled or extinct. Alteration of rivers is considered a major contributor to unionid population declines. Losses could occur through disruption of the reproductive cycle. Unionid reproduction requires attachment of larva (glochidia) to host fishes; therefore, changes in the host fish community could alter the reproductive potential in unionid communities. There have been few attempts to compare reproductive success before and after alteration. I examined the pattern of glochidia use on two common host fishes, Lepomis megalotis and Cyprinella venusta, before and after alteration of the Tombigbee River. While both host species declined in the river, the number of glochidia per infested fish and proportion of infested fish increased post-impoundment in L. megalotis but not C. venusta. My results demonstrate the importance of considering reproductive changes as a driver of unionid mussel declines in North America.

The Gray Fossil Site (GFS) preserves an early Pliocene sinkhole pond that accumulated a rich flora and vertebrate fauna. Fossils of fish are incredibly common at GFS, representing thousands of specimens recovered to date. Comparison with extant species reveals a depauperate freshwater fish fauna consisting of only two species: Lepomis sp. and Micropterus sp. The absence of fishes that are ubiquitous in modern streams suggests no perennial surface hydrologic connection between the Gray Fossil Site and the nearby Holston River. Limited opportunities for dispersal into the pond and deleterious conditions such as eutrophy and high competition may have resulted in this extremely low diversity. Examination of articulated and partially articulated GFS fish specimens show mild to moderate degrees of post-mortem disarticulation, suggesting slowed decay likely attributable to cool water temperatures and/or anoxic conditions within the hypolimnion. Preliminary examination of osteological thin sections suggests slow growth in GFS fishes.

The Rio Grande cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) has been established in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area (GNOMA) for at least 20 years. It is often the most common fish species in urban canals and has also been found in natural waterways outside of the GNOMA. The effects and potential for further spread of H. cyanoguttatus is uncertain. My research addressed how extensive the cichlids spread in the GNOMA, how H. cyanoguttatus interacted with L. macrochirus, a native fish, and what salinity tolerance this species has. Surveys on Lake Pontchartrain and in the GNOMA indicated that H. cyanoguttatus is well established in urban habitats. These surveys also indicate that H. cyanoguttatus has spread rapidly into Bayou Saint John and City Park in recent years and that H. cyanoguttatus populations were relatively unaffected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. There is little evidence that H. cyanoguttatus has become established outside of the GNOMA, but this lack of persistence cannot be explained by abiotic variables I measured. Salinity may be a factor and this was measured in growth trials of H. cyanoguttatus. Salinities up to 16 ppt, however, had no significant effect on H. cyanoguttatus growth. Interspecific behavioral experiments were conducted to examine potential biotic interactions with native fish species. Prior resident trials indicated that H. cyanoguttatus was aggressive whether holding territory or not, and that native bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) was only aggressive while holding territory. Feeding experiments were performed to examine biotic interactions between H. cyanoguttatus and L. macrochirus. Lepomis macrochirus grew faster than H. cyanoguttatus when inter- and intraspecific trials were compared; however, no significant growth differences were seen when trials were structured with L. macrochirus as prior residents. The major findings of my research are a high salinity tolerance of H. cyanoguttatus, a potential mechanism for H. cyanoguttatus affecting native fishes through aggression as residents and invaders, and the presence of H. cyanoguttatus throughout the GNOMA, before and after the hurricanes.

Vertebrate populations are subjected to novel anthropogenic stressors that are expected to multiply exponentially in the future. Introductions of nonnative species and human-altered hydrology are among these stressors to native species communities. The Rocky Glades, located in Everglades National Park, may serve as a population sink for native species that typically do not survive the altered hydrology of the dry season, and as a source of nonnative species that may be better adapted to chronically stressful conditions. In the seasonally-flooded Everglades, the nonnative African Jewelfish invaded in the 1960s and has since shown rapid range expansion. African Jewelfish are aggressive and territorial, thus they are predicted to be more successful at acquiring space and resources, and may displace native Sunfishes. I monitored assemblages of fish across time in experimental mesocosms and solution holes and quantified survivorship and body condition of both natives and nonnatives. Overall, native Sunfish did poorly while nonnatives had higher survivorship over the course of the dry season. Unexpectedly, no evidence indicated that Jewelfish reduced survival of native Sunfish. I compared aggressive interactions between native Dollar Sunfish and nonnative African Jewelfish in Sunfish populations either sympatric or allopatric with Jewelfish. Sympatric Dollar Sunfish were twice as likely to approach African Jewelfish as allopatric ones. My study suggests native species can survive invasion through behavioral adaptation to nonnative competitors. Characterizing interactions between native and nonnative species and identifying their niche use can assist in understanding the challenges of native species conservation in the face of species invasions.