Life history tactics of three Central Florida populations of Poecilia latipinna were compared to those predicted by life history selection theory. The three populations were sampled monthly for one year. At each sampling period a series of physicochemical measurements were taken to determine the degree of spatial and temporal environmental heterogeneity within each site. Life history traits determined for each population included size at maturity, size specific fecundity, reproductive effort, and length, weight, and condition of offspring. The population inhabiting the most variable environment was characterized by smaller size at maturity, lower size specific fecundity, lower overall reproductive output, and larger, more robust young. In all cases reproductive effort decreased with increasing female length, although the exact nature of this relationship varied between sites. The observed life history tactics do not fit the hypotheses of bet hedging or r-and K- selection theory, but support the idea that life history traits may vary independently rather than being inherited as coadapted units.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:rtd-5790 |
| Date | 01 January 1985 |
| Creators | Large, Helen L. |
| Publisher | STARS |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Retrospective Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Public Domain |
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