To produce many small or few large eggs: a size-independent reproductive tactic of fish

Summary We demonstrate here the existence of a range of size-independent reproductive tactics in teleostean fish involving the allocation of a size-dependent reproductive effort between fecundity and egg size. Despite considerable evidence that larger eggs and the larvae hatching from them are more likely to survive than smaller ones, we found no evidence of evolutionary trends towards greater egg sizes. Fish with pelagic eggs tend to spawn many, and therefore small, eggs, whereas demersal spawners tend to produce large, and therefore few, eggs. Maximizing egg number should increase the number of eggs hatching in suitable locations in the patchy pelagic environment and, hence, increase the reproductive success of pelagic spawners. On the other hand, the reproductive success of demersal spawners, which reduce the variance in growing conditions experienced by the off spring, should be more dependent on the survival of the individual larvae, which increases as egg size increases.     

Relationship between pelagic larval duration and abundance of tropical fishes on temperate coasts of Japan

The influence of pelagic larval duration (PLD) and egg type dispersal capabilities of 35 demersal and pelagic-spawning tropical fish species is examined in relation to their abundance on the temperate coasts of Japan. The PLDs of pelagic spawners were significantly longer than those of demersal spawners, and a high occurrence of pelagic spawners on the temperate coasts suggests that these fishes are more easily transported to temperate coasts than demersal spawners. For demersal spawners, the common species on the temperate coasts had significantly longer PLDs than the rare species; this suggests that PLD is a major factor influencing the distribution patterns of tropical demersal spawners on temperate coasts. Moreover, a negative correlation between PLD and the abundance of some species of pelagic and demersal spawners suggests the presence of reproductively active fishes in northern subtropical and even in temperate waters.     

Covariation between clutch size, egg weight and egg shape: comparative evidence for chelonians

The variation in reproductive variables is documented both within and across species of chelonians. At both the generic and family levels, egg weight and clutch size show positive, significant correlations with adult carapace length. There is a negative correlation across both genera and families between clutch size and egg weight after removing the effects of body size, suggesting an evolutionary trade-off between these two life-history characteristics. However, the trade-off is not complete, since clutch size is positively correlated with clutch weight after removing the effects of body size. Terrestrial species lay fewer and larger eggs for their size than freshwater or marine species, but this association is statistically confounded by the fact that chelonian families form ecological groups. There is no significant association between habitat and clutch weight after removing the effects of body size, nor between latitude and either egg weight or clutch size, but temperate species have a heavier clutch weight after removing the effects of body size. Larger species lay eggs that are more spherical, but after controlling for body size, egg shape is not associated with clutch size. The patterns of covariation between adult weight, egg weight and clutch size contrast with those reported for birds and mammals, and some reasons for these differences are discussed.     

Patterns of parental investment,dispersal and size among coral-reef fishes

Synopsis Coral-reef fishes have been selected to produce propagules for dispersal because they live in a patchy environment, and the adults cannot migrate between patches. For large species (>100 mm SL) and widely separated patches, numerous propagules are needed, often with specialized pelagic intervals. Individuals of small species are confined to portions of the reef. They are unable to produce enough eggs for effective longrange dispersal, and so they keep their vulnerable eggs and young out of the plankton until they are well developed enough to seek out and settle onto the appropriate habitat before dispersing.Guarded demersal eggs, requiring a greater individual investment by the small short-lived species, further reduces their individual fecundity. These costs to fecundity, and the reduction in vagile young appear to account for the lack of postzygotic investment in larger longlived species.All coral-reef fishes are selected to disperse, usually with a young planktonic propagule interval. Both large and small species produce a mixed outcome, with some propagules returned to, or retained at the home reef, while others disperse more widely. The smaller the species the greater the proportion of propagules retained.     

The interrelation of the size of fish eggs, the date of spawning and the production cycle

The variability in size of pelagic and demersal marine and freshwater fish eggs is examined. The difference between the smallest and largest volumes, based on published figures for the diameters, is large in many species. In marine species with planktonic eggs, the median percentage difference is just over 100%, and this is similar in species with demersal eggs and in freshwater fish.
The available evidence suggests that geographical differences in egg size are small, but in marine fish there is a well-known seasonal decline in egg size. In herring it has previously been shown that egg size in different spawning groups can be correlated with the timing of the production cycle. A similar correlation can be seen in the seasonal shift in time and locality of spawning, and egg size, of the plaice. Sufficient data on seasonal freshwater fish egg variations are not available, but the time of spawning does appear to be linked with the availability of food for the larvae in both lake and stream species.     

Patterns of life history among cyclopoid copepods of central Europe

• 1 Life history characters (body size of adults, egg diameter, egg sac length and breadth) of nineteen species of central European cyclopoid copepods were measured and sexual size dimorphism (adult female length x adult male length^?1), relative egg size (egg weight X body weight^?1), weight of adult females and of eggs, egg sac shape (egg sac length x egg sac breadth^?1), and reproductive effort (clutch weight produced per female weight per day) were calculated to detect trends in life history strategies.
• 2 Typical planktonic species exhibited the lowest reproductive effort. Among planktonic species, the value for egg sac shape increased with clutch size.
• 3 Large species and small species exhibited different trends in life history characters. Large species had larger clutches, larger eggs, and a greater sex size dimorphism than small species. However, small species had a greater relative egg size.
• 4 Large species live in cold water and reproduce during the spring bloom of phytoplankton where the production of large clutches with relatively small eggs is advantageous. Reserves are unnecessary for juveniles because food is abundant. Small species generally are most abundant during the warm season, when conditions are less predictable, and relatively large eggs, possibly provided with reserves, are advantageous.

     

Incomplete datasets obscure associations between traits affecting dispersal ability and geographic range size of reef fishes in the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Dispersal is thought to be an important process determining range size, especially for species in highly spatially structured habitats, such as tropical reef fishes. Despite intensive research efforts, there is conflicting evidence about the role of dispersal in determining range size. We hypothesize that traits related to dispersal drive range sizes, but that complete and comprehensive datasets are essential for detecting relationships between species’ dispersal ability and range size. We investigate the roles of six traits affecting several stages of dispersal (adult mobility, spawning mode, pelagic larval duration (PLD), body size, aggregation behavior, and circadian activity), in explaining range size variation of reef fishes in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP). All traits, except for PLD (148 species), had data for all 497 species in the region. Using a series of statistical models, we investigated which traits were associated with large range sizes, when analyzing all TEP species or only species with PLD data. Furthermore, using null models, we analyzed whether the PLD‐subset is representative of the regional species pool. Several traits affecting dispersal ability were strongly associated with range size, although these relationships could not be detected when using the PLD‐subset. Pelagic spawners (allowing for passive egg dispersal) had on average 56% larger range sizes than nonpelagic spawners. Species with medium or high adult mobility had on average a 25% or 33% larger range, respectively, than species with low mobility. Null models showed that the PLD‐subset was nonrepresentative of the regional species pool, explaining why model outcomes using the PLD‐subset differed from the ones based on the complete dataset. Our results show that in the TEP, traits affecting dispersal ability are important in explaining range size variation. Using a regionally complete dataset was crucial for detecting the theoretically expected, but so far empirically unresolved, relationship between dispersal and range size.     

Allometry of reproduction in two species of gekkonid lizards (Gehyra): effects of body size miniaturization on clutch and egg sizes

In squamate reptiles there is an allometric pattern for small-bodied females to have smaller clutches and proportionally larger eggs than large-bodied females, and this pattern occurs both among and within species. The allometric patterns in two species of the gecko Gehyra were studied to see how evolutionary reductions in adult body size affect fecundity and offspring size among species, and how these changes affect allometric relationships within species. Gehyra dubia has two eggs per clutch (the typical clutch size for gekkonid lizards), whereas the smallerbodied G. variegata has a single egg per clutch. Within both species, egg size increased with female body size. The data are consistent with at least two mechanistic hypotheses: (1) that the width of the pelvis constrains egg size; and (2) in species with invariant clutch sizes, larger females can only allocate additional energy towards egg size and not number. More direct tests of these hypotheses are warranted. Miniaturization of body sizes in Gehyra is correlated with a clutch size reduction of 50% (from two to one), and a large (1.7-fold) compensatory increase in relative egg mass. However, the small-bodied G. variegata (one egg per clutch) had a lower relative clutch mass than did G. dubia. These findings have implications for understanding the influence of evolutionary reductions in body size on reproductive traits, and for allometric trends in squamate reptiles in general.     

Developmental defects in pelagic fish embryos from the western Baltic

In February/March 1983 and 1984 a survey of pelagic fish eggs was conducted in the western Baltic (Kiel Bight), employing a horizontally towed plankton net (1 m Ø and 300 μm mesh). Maximum egg numbers in the upper meter of the S=21×10^?3 salinity layer were 200·100 m^?3. The most abundant eggs were cod (up to 142 eggs·100 m^?3), followed by plaice (up to 74 eggs·100 m^?3) and flounder (20 eggs·100 m^?3). A considerable percentage of embryos of all species displayed aberrant development. In 1983 18% of cod, 22% of flounder and 24% of plaice eggs caught contained defective embryos; in 1984 this number was larger, ranging from 28% in plaice over 32% in cod to 44% in flounder. Early developmental stages showed the highest malformation rates (up to 51% in the case of early flounder embryos). With progressive development, malformations decreased in numbers, being lowest prior to hatching. Highest rates of malformations were recorded in the Mecklenburg Bight in 1983. A second area with high incidence of malformation rates was located south and east of the island of Langeland. Several reasons, including environmental and anthropogenic factors, for the occurrence of malformed embryos in pelagic fish eggs are discussed. The potential of malformation rates in embryos of pelagic fish eggs as a tool for monitoring is considered.     

Changes in teleost yolk proteins during oocyte maturation: correlation of yolk proteolysis with oocyte hydration

Yolk proteins of prematuration occytes and postmaturation eggs were compared by SDS gel electrophoresis in several teleosts, including freshwater species that produce demersal eggs, estuarine and marine species with demersal eggs, and marine species with pelagic eggs. In certain teleosts distinct changes in yolk protein banding patterns during oocyte maturation are suggestive of extensive secondary proteolysis of yolk proteins at this time; proteolysis is most pronounced in marine fishes with pelagic eggs. In many teleosts the oocyte swells by hydration during maturation; this hydration is also most pronounced in marine fishes with pelagic eggs. The extent of yolk proteolysis is well correlated with the extent of oocyte hydration during maturation.     

蓝尾石龙子杭州和宁德种群繁殖生活史特征的差异

测定处于不同纬度的浙江杭州和福建宁德的蓝尾石龙子(Eumeceselegans)种群的个体大小和繁殖特征。宁德种群的产卵时间为5月27日—6月22日,早于高纬度杭州种群(6月4日—7月12日)。宁德种群最小繁殖雌体及性成熟个体大小均显著小于杭州种群。宁德和杭州两种群的相对窝卵重无显著差异;当统计去除母体体长的影响之后,两地种群的窝卵数和窝卵重也无显著差异,但杭州种群的卵重量显著大于宁德种群。蓝尾石龙子窝卵数和卵重量呈负相关,窝卵数和卵大小的权衡存在种群间差异。特定窝卵数条件下,杭州种群的卵重量显著大于宁德种群。由此可见,蓝尾石龙子种群间的繁殖生活史特征存在显著差异,而且与母体大小的差异密切相关。推测不同纬度地区的蓝尾石龙子种群的繁殖策略存在差异。     

Morphology, sociality, and ecology: can morphology predict pairing behavior in coral reef fishes?

Morphology can contain valuable information about the ecological performance of reef fishes, but it has rarely been used in combination with social traits. Social behavior is known to influence the ecological role of fishes; however, the ecological basis for pairing in reef fishes is not well understood. Field observations of 2,753 individuals, in 47 species in six families of biting reef fishes (Acanthuridae, Chaetodontidae, Kyphosidae, Labridae, Pomacanthidae, Siganidae), were used in combination with six morphological measurements, to examine the morphology of fishes in different social systems. A principal components analysis of morphological traits segregated species with high proportions of pairing individuals from non-pairing species along principal component 1, explaining 40.8 % of the variation. Pairing species were characterized by large eyes, concave foreheads, pointed snouts, deep bodies, and small maximum sizes. There was a significant positive relationship between these morphological traits (i.e., scores on PC1) and the prevalence of pairing within the Chaetodontidae (r ² = 0.59; P = 0.026), Siganidae (r ² = 0.72; P = 0.004), and Acanthuridae (r ² = 0.82; P < 0.001). This was consistent when traits were corrected for phylogenetic effects. No pattern was evident in the scarine Labridae (r ² = 0.15; P = 0.17). The morphological characteristics found among pairing species suggest that pairing species share common ecological traits, including foraging for small prey items in micro-topographically complex environments such as reef crevices. These ecological traits may have played a role in the evolution of pairing behavior and subsequently led to the development of reproductive patterns based on monogamy.     

Seasonal shifts in clutch size and egg size in the side-blotched lizard,Uta stansburiana Baird and Girard

Summary There is evidence that the side-blotched lizard, Uta stansburiana, and some other organisms of temperate latitudes produce fewer and larger eggs as the reproductive season progresses. There are at least two models that could explain this phenomenon.Proponents of the parental investment model claim that females are selected to increase egg size, at the cost of clutch size, late in the season in order to produce larger and competitively superior hatchlings at a time when food for hatchlings is in low supply and when juvenile density is high. In this model the selective agent is relative scarcity of food available to hatchlings late in the reproductive season, and the adaptive response is production of larger offspring.The alternative explanation (bet-hedging model) proposed in this paper is based on the view that the amount of food available to females for the production of late-season clutches is unpredictable, and that selection has favored conservatively small clutches in the late season to insure that each egg is at least minimally provisioned. Smaller clutches, which occur most frequently late in the season, are more likely to consist of larger eggs, compared to larger clutches, for two reasons. Firstly, unlike birds, oviparous lizards cannot alter parental investment after their eggs are deposited, and therefore, in cases of fractional optimal clutch size, the next lower integral clutch size is selected with the remaining reproductive energy allocated to increased egg size. With other factors constant, eggs of smaller clutches will increase more in size than eggs of larger clutches when excess energy is divided among the eggs of a clutch. Secondly, unanticipated energy that may become available for reproduction during energy-rich years will similarly increase egg size a greater amount if divided among fewer eggs.     

Comparative morphology of the gonadal structure related to reproductive strategies in six species of neotropical catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

We studied the relationship between the morphology of the reproductive system and the reproductive strategies of six neotropical catfishes using macroscopic and microscopic analyses. The reproductive system of the examined Siluriformes showed diversified characteristics, but permitted their being grouped according to three reproductive strategies: pelagic spawning, demersal spawning, and internally fertilizing. The pelagic spawners Pseudoplatystoma corruscans and Conorhynchos conirostris have testes that are characterized by filiform lobes, absence of testicular secretion, full‐grown oocytes of small diameter, thin zona radiata, and cuboidal follicular cells. Pimelodus maculatus is morphologically distinct from the other two pelagic spawners catfishes due to the presence of testicular secretion. The demersal spawners Lophiosilurus alexandri and Rhinelepis aspera possess homogeneous testicular secretion, large mature oocytes, and columnar follicular cells. The most specialized reproductive system was observed in the internally fertilizing Trachelyopterus galeatus, which possesses a seminal vesicle accessory to the testes, spermatozoa with elongated nuclei that form spermatozeugmata, and a secretory ovarian lamellar epithelium that is associated with sperm storage. The reproductive system observed in Neotropical catfishes showed a relationship associated with the type of fertilization and the reproductive strategies of the six species studied. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Measuring marine fishes biodiversity: temporal changes in abundance, life history and demography

Patterns in marine fishes biodiversity can be assessed by quantifying temporal variation in rate of population change, abundance, life history and demography concomitant with long-term reductions in abundance. Based on data for 178 populations (62 species) from four north-temperate oceanic regions (Northeast Atlantic and Pacific, Northwest Atlantic, North mid-Atlantic), 81% of the populations in decline prior to 1992 experienced reductions in their rate of loss thereafter; species whose rate of population decline accelerated after 1992 were predominantly top predators such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), sole (Solea solea) and pelagic sharks. Combining population data across regions and species, marine fishes have declined 35% since 1978 and are currently less than 70% of recorded maxima; demersal species are generally at historic lows, pelagic species are generally stable or increasing in abundance. Declines by demersal species have been associated with substantive increases in pelagic species, a pattern consistent with the hypothesis that increases in the latter may be largely attributable to reduced predation mortality. There is a need to determine the consequences to population growth effected by the reductions in age and size at maturity, and in mean age and size of spawners, concomitant with population decline. We conclude that reductions in the rate of population decline, in the absence of targets for population increase, will be insufficient to effect a recovery of marine fishes biodiversity, and that great care must be exercised when interpreting multi-species patterns in abundance. Of fundamental importance is the need to explain the geographical, species-specific and habitat biases that pervade patterns of marine fishes recovery and biodiversity.     

High connectivity among habitats precludes the relationship between dispersal and range size in tropical reef fishes

The hypothesis that pelagic larval duration (PLD) influences range size in marine species with a benthic adult stage and a pelagic larval period is intuitively attractive; yet, studies conducted to date have failed to support it. A possibility for the lack of a relationship between PLD and range size may stem from the failure of past studies to account for the effect of species evolutionary ages, which may add to the dispersal capabilities of species. However, if dispersal over ecological (i.e. PLD) and across evolutionary (i.e. species evolutionary age) time scales continues to show no effect on range size then an outstanding question is why? Here we collected data on PLD, evolutionary ages and range sizes of seven tropical fish families (five families were reef‐associated and two have dwell demersal habitats) to explore the independent and interactive effects of PLD and evolutionary age on range size. Separate analyses on each family showed that even after controlling for evolutionary age, PLD has an insignificant or a very small effect on range size. To shed light on why dispersal has such a limited effect on range size, we developed a global ocean circulation model to quantify the connectivity among tropical reefs relative to the potential dispersal conferred by PLD. We found that although there are several areas of great isolation in the tropical oceans, most reef habitats are within the reach of most species given their PLDs. These results suggest that the lack of habitat isolation can potentially render the constraining effect of dispersal on range size insignificant and explain why dispersal does not relate to range size in reef fishes.     

Models of clutch size in insect oviposition

Models for clutch size in species where a female deposits eggs into a larval resource of limited carrying capacity are developed. Previous models of clutch size related mainly to vertebrates (notably birds) where parental care limits clutch size. Our models cover cases where a single female “saturates” a larval food patch with larvae. The main predictions are that (1) extra eggs should be laid to compensate for larval moratility; (2) clutches should generally be smaller than the size that yields the maximum number of surviving larvae/clutch; (3) in species that gain resources for eggs in the adult stage, clutch size will be unaffected by age-independent parental mortality between clutches; (4) clutch size should reduce throughout life in species that gain resources for eggs before the adult stage; (5) similar species, but which are constrained to produce constant-sized clutches, should lay smaller clutches if their total potential egg production is low; (6) clutch size should increase with increasing search costs for oviposition sites. An ESS model of double-oviposition (where two females sometimes lay in the same larval food patch) indicates that the first female should generally lay more eggs than the second female; the difference in clutch size should decrease as the probability of double-oviposition increases, and should decrease as the search costs for larval food plants decreases. Many of the predictions have some support from data on insect oviposition.     

The interspecific range size–body size relationship in Australian frogs

Aim There is substantial residual scatter about the positive range size–body size relationship in Australian frogs. We test whether species’ life history and abundance can account for this residual scatter. Location Australia. Methods Multiple regressions were performed using both cross‐species and independent contrasts analyses to determine whether clutch size, egg size and species abundance account for variation in range size over and above the effects of body size. Results In both cross‐species and independents contrasts models with body size, clutch size and egg size as predictors, partial r² values revealed that only egg size was significantly and uniquely related to range size. Contrary to expectation, neither body size nor clutch size could account for significant variation in range size. Incorporating species abundance as a predictor in further multiple regression analysis demonstrated that while abundance accounted for a significant proportion of range size variation, the contribution of egg size was reduced but still significant. Notably, non‐significant relationships persisted between range size and both body size and clutch size. Conclusions The weak positive correlation between body size and range size in Australian frogs disappears after accounting for species abundance and egg size. Our findings demonstrate that species with both high local abundance and small eggs occupy comparatively wider geographical ranges than species with low abundance and large eggs.     

Reproductive variation and adult size in two co-occurring grasshopper species

ABSTRACT. 1. Egg sizes and clutch sizes of the grasshoppers Chorthippus brunneus (Thunb.) and Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunb.) were compared among three years and among three sites less than 1.3 km apart. Relationships between these reproductive traits and date of egg laying, body size and body condition were sought.
2. M.maculatus , the smaller species, laid fewer but larger eggs; and only the eggs of this species showed significant differences between sites and years.
3. A negative correlation between egg size and number per clutch was evident between species and years, but generally not among sites and among individuals of a population.
4. However, a hidden negative correlation between egg size and number was uncovered within populations when the relationship was examined for females of a given mature weight.
5. Variation in the number of eggs per clutch was explained statistically by a positive relationship between female body weight and egg number. Also, both interpopulation and intrapopulation comparisons revealed that for M.maculatus , but not for C.brunneus , females with long hind femurs laid large eggs.     

Reproduction in the North Atlantic oceanic ichthyofauna and the relationship between fecundity and species' sizes

Synopsis The pelagic (589 spp.) and demersal (505 spp.) oceanic ichthyofaunas of the North Atlantic Basin have very different compositions at ordinal and family level. Yet the pattern of relationships between species' maximum size and maximum fecundity from data available (10% of the pelagic, 19% of the demersal species) was similar. A positive relationship between fecundity and weight was confirmed among most teleosts, but was not followed by the elasmobranchs represented. Species' reproductive styles are reviewed in ordinal groupings within a framework of the overall body size/fecundity distribution. Species size (maximum weight) spectra were synthesized for both pelagic and demersal assemblages to assess the allocation of potential reproductive effort throughout the North Atlantic oceanic ichthyofauna. The only available examples of species size spectra and biomass spectra from the pelagic and demersal ichthyofauna in this ocean basin imply geographic and bathymetric variation in overall reproductive effort among fishes whose fecundity is size dependent. Further implications concerning reproductive effort are discussed in the light of food availability.