Advancing breeding in stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to produce two reproductive cycles per year

Abstract

The effects of photoperiod and temperature manipulation on reproductive cycles in threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus were examined. The experimental "advanced group" conditions were adjusted to simulate two reproductive seasons within a calendar year by adjusting light and temperature cycles. G. aculeatus subject to advanced conditions had two reproductive cycles per year, grew at normal rates and suffered little additional mortality. The research of many stickleback scientists would benefit from faster generation times and our methods could potentially shorten the time required to produce fish for genetic, behavioural and morphological work.