Cannibalism and protective behavior of eggs in Arctic charr (<i>Salvelinus alpinus</i>)

Frye, Marilena; Egeland, Torvald Blikra; Nordeide, Jarle Tryti; Folstad, Ivar

doi:10.1002/ece3.8173

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This supports analogous results from other salmonids [4]. It is possible that females benefit from the protection that dominant males sometimes provide against egg predation during the first minutes after spawning [65,66] or from higher fertilization success due to milt and sperm traits linked to male dominance [43,67]. However, if females aim for genetic benefits, we conclude from our results that they prefer genetically dissimilar males with whom they would produce offspring of low inbreeding coefficients.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Genetic compatibility exceeds possible ‘good genes’ effects of sexual selection in lake char

Garaud

Nusbaumer

Guttry

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Mating is rarely random in nature, but the effects of mate selection on offspring performance are still poorly understood, even in well-established models such as salmonid fish. We sampled wild lake char (Salvelinus umbla) and used their gametes to investigate the genetic consequences of different mating scenarios. In a first study, we used full-factorial breeding to experimentally separate additive genetic from maternal environmental effects. This led to 60 families and in total 1,073 embryos that were raised singly after sublethal exposures to the pathogen Aeromonas salmonicida, the common pollutant ethinylestradiol, or water only. Contrary to predictions of ‘good genes’ sexual selection, offspring of more yellow males were less tolerant to the pathogen than offspring of pale males, while male coloration did not predict offspring tolerance to ethinylestradiol. However, increased kinship between the parents had strong negative effects on embryo development in all treatment groups. In a second experiment, we monitored 1,464 singly-raised embryos that resulted from 70 pair-wise sperm competition trials. These embryos were raised in an environment that supports the growth of symbiotic microbes (sublethal stress) or in a clean environment. Offspring of yellow males were again less stress tolerant than those of pale males, and embryo development was again slowed down with increasing genetic similarity between the parents. We conclude that genetic benefits of mate selection would be strongest if females avoided genetic similarity during mate selection, for example based on MHC-linked signals, while male breeding colors seem more relevant in intra-sexual selection.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Genetic compatibility exceeds possible ‘good genes’ effects of sexual selection in lake char

Garaud

Nusbaumer

Guttry

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…A protective behaviour towards the eggs was observed by Frye et al (2021) who also documented cannibalism on the eggs, increasing with male competition. Cannibalistic behaviour on the eggs was not mentioned by participants.…”

Section: Inuit Knowledgementioning

confidence: 78%

Nunavik anadromous Arctic char life histories, behaviour, and habitat use informed by both Inuit knowledge and western science: a year in Ungava Bay

Dubos

May

Gillis³

et al. 2023

Arctic Science

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This study is a comprehensive documentation of anadromous Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) life history in Ungava Bay, Nunavik, Canada, through Inuit knowledge. Inuit experts shared their knowledge during semi-directed interviews and other occasions such as informal discussions and fieldwork. A contextualized synthesis of published western scientific literature is provided for the various life stages of Arctic char. The close year-round relationship Inuit have with Arctic char allows to set evidence of poorly described life history strategies in western literature and to reveal behaviours that, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, have not been documented so far. The connections and paralleling of Inuit knowledge and published studies about Arctic char informs western science with a more holistic understanding of Arctic char ecology. By bringing Inuit knowledge of Arctic char to the foreground, the present study highlights relevant research avenues for co-developed projects on Arctic char ecology.

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“…This supports analogous results from breeding experiments with migratory and non-migratory brown trout (Jacob et al 2007). Females may bene t from the protection that dominant males sometimes provide against egg predation during the rst minutes after spawning (Frye et al 2021) or from higher fertilization success due to milt and sperm traits linked to male dominance (Masvaer et al 2004;Nusbaumer et al 2023). However, if females aim for genetic bene ts, we predict from our results that they prefer genetically dissimilar males with whom they would produce offspring of low inbreeding coe cients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The kinship coefficient but not male coloration predicts early offspring growth in lake char

Wedekind,

Garaud,

Nusbaumer

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The ‘good genes’ hypotheses of sexual selection predict that females prefer males with strong ornaments because they are in good health and vigor and can afford the costs of the ornaments. A key assumption of these models is that male health and vigor are useful predictors of genetic quality and hence offspring performance. We tested this prediction in wild lake char (Salvelinus umbla) whose breeding coloration is known to reveal aspects of male health. We first reanalyzed results from sperm competition trials in which embryos of known parenthood had been raised singly in either a stress- or non-stress environment. Male coloration did not correlate with any measures of offspring performance. However, offspring growth was reduced with increased kinship coefficients between the parents. To test the robustness of these first observations, we collected a new sample of wild males and females, used their gametes in a full-factorial in vitro breeding experiment, and singly raised about 3,000 embryos in either a stress- or non-stress environment (stress induced by microbes). Again, male coloration did not predict offspring performance while offspring growth was reduced with increasing kinship between the parents. We conclude that, in lake char, the genetic benefits of mate choice would be strongest if females could recognize and avoid genetically related males, while male breeding colors may be more relevant in intra-sexual selection.

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Cannibalism and protective behavior of eggs in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Cited by 9 publications

References 36 publications

Genetic compatibility exceeds possible ‘good genes’ effects of sexual selection in lake char

Genetic compatibility exceeds possible ‘good genes’ effects of sexual selection in lake char

Nunavik anadromous Arctic char life histories, behaviour, and habitat use informed by both Inuit knowledge and western science: a year in Ungava Bay

The kinship coefficient but not male coloration predicts early offspring growth in lake char

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