Flexible Life History Strategies of Ninespine Sticklebacks,Genus <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pungitius</Emphasis> |
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Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Takaomi?AraiEmail author Akira?Goto |
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Institution: | (1) International Coastal Research Center, Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 2-106-1, Akahama, 028-1102 Iwate, Otsuchi, Japan;(2) Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1, Minato, 041-8611 Hakodate, Japan |
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Abstract: | Synopsis We studied the life histories of the ninespine sticklebacks, Pungitius pungitius and Pungitius tymensis, collected from Japanese freshwater and brackish (sea) water habitats by examining the strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations
in their otoliths. The Sr:Ca ratios in the otoliths changed with the salinity of the habitat regardless of identification
as freshwater or brackish water type based on morphological characteristics. The ninespine sticklebacks living in a freshwater
environment showed consistently low Sr:Ca ratios throughout the otolith. These samples were identified as a standard freshwater
type. In contrast, all freshwater-type fishes collected from the intertidal zone showed higher otolith Sr:Ca ratios than those
in the standard freshwater type, and the ratios fluctuated with the growth phase. All brackish water-type fishes collected
in the intertidal zone showed the highest otolith Sr:Ca ratio throughout the otolith. In the present study, besides the two
representative life history types of P. pungitius, i.e., freshwater and brackish water life history types, other sticklebacks had an anadromous life history type. These findings
clearly indicate that the ninespine stickleback has a flexible migration strategy with a high degree of behavioral plasticity
and an ability to utilize the full range of salinity in its life history. |
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Keywords: | anadromy migration otolith Sr:Ca ratios estuarine resident life history flexibility |
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