Cannibalism, Food Availability, and Reproduction in the Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis): A Laboratory Experiment

Dionne, Michele

doi:10.1086/284392

Cited by 42 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Conspecific predation in the form of maternal cannibalism by G. affinis females may also have a selective role on maternal investment. Although we have rarely observed cannibalism of neonates by G. nobilis females in laboratory populations, cannibalism by G. affinis mothers of young neonates has been extensively reported (Dionne 1985;Hubbs 1991;Benoît et al 2000). Guppies, Poecilia reticulata found in habitats with greater predation risk have shorter interbrood intervals, early sexual maturity and smaller embryos (Reznick 1982).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

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Habitat and life history differences between two species of Gambusia

Swenton

Kodric‐Brown

2012

Environ Biol Fish

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Life history strategies reflect trade-offs that tend to maximize fitness, such as investment in a few large or many small offspring. We compared life histories of two temperate livebearing fishes Gambusia affinis and G. nobilis, an endangered species which is virtually unstudied. The two species persist in environments that differ widely in abiotic and biotic factors in the same local area. Gambusia affinis were typically found in habitats with high productivity and wide fluctuations in temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, whereas G. nobilis occurred in more stable spring-fed habitats. We collected data on life-history traits: embryo mass, brood size (number of embryos), total maternal reproductive effort, population sex ratios, and size (mass and length) distributions of adults and juveniles. There was no difference between species in reproductive effort per brood, but they differed in investment strategy. Gambusia affinis females produced large broods with small embryos, whereas G. nobilis females produced broods of fewer, larger embryos. These differences in life history strategies reflect a tradeoff between individual productivity and differential mortality rates in different environments. At our field site G. affinis persists as an annual species with relatively high growth rates and corresponding reproductive patterns, whereas G. nobilis females have a slower reproductive tempo and may live multiple years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…These brood chambers are designed to separate neonates from the mother when they are born. Gambusia females are known to cannibalize their young after birth if the neonates have no refuge in which to hide (Dionne 1985). When a brood was born, we counted brood size and noted neonate mortality.…”

Section: Field Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat and life history differences between two species of Gambusia

Swenton

Kodric‐Brown

2012

Environ Biol Fish

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“…In these situations they are usually fed some type of commercial fish food (Meffe, 1992;Zulian et al, 1993;Fraile et al, 1994) but they will also eat a wide variety of other food types such as smaller or minced Gambusia, including a female's own young, other fish and fish eggs, mosquito larvae and pupae, Drosophila adults and pupae, corixid larvae, odonate larvae, Daphnia, copepods, back swimmers, brine shrimp, oligochaete worms, boiled egg, bread soaked in beaten egg and dried, finely chopped snails and liver (Seale, 1917;Geiser, 1924;Dionne, 1985;Meffe and Crump, 1987;Murdoch and Bence, 1987). Captive Gambusia will, in particular, eat the eggs and tadpoles of amphibians if provided with them (Lawler, 1989;Gamradt and Kats, 1996;Komak and Crossland, 2000).…”

Section: Foraging Diet Food Consumption Digestion and Food Conversionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of the Biology of Gambusia affinis and G. holbrooki

Pyke

2005

Rev Fish Biol Fisheries

373

429

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“…Gambusia affinis is extremely aggressive, with their attacks on other fish causing stress or even physical damage (Lloyd et al 1986). This species is also known to become cannibalistic at higher densities (Krumholz 1948;Dionne 1985;Crivelli and Boy 1987;Garcia-Berthou 1999). Culex tarsalis one of the main vector of West Nile virus, developed faster in the presence of G. affinis, due to lowered abundance of invertebrate competitors (Blaustein and Karban 1990).…”

Section: Effects Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regional ecological risk assessment for the introduction of Gambusia affinis (western mosquitofish) into Montana watersheds

2007

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Qualitative risk assessment methodologies were used to assess the risk of establishment and consequent impacts on native minnows and species of concern (SOC) associated with the intentional or unintentional introduction of the mosquito biological control agent, Gambusia affinis, to various Montana watersheds. Gambusia affinis introductions for mosquito control have been made throughout the world; some introductions have resulted in deleterious effects on native species. We used average January water temperatures, the presence of dams, and the presence of native minnows and SOC to define endpoints for our assessment. Our results suggest that a section of the Missouri River running between Wolf Creek and Landusky had the highest overall risk score, which corresponds to the highest likelihood of establishment and effects on native minnows and SOC. We also demonstrate how rivers with the highest temperatures are not necessarily at the highest risk of having deleterious effects on minnows and SOC; conversely, these rivers were found to be at highest risk of a population of G. affinis establishing.

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Cannibalism, Food Availability, and Reproduction in the Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis): A Laboratory Experiment

Cited by 42 publications

References 26 publications

Habitat and life history differences between two species of Gambusia

Habitat and life history differences between two species of Gambusia

A Review of the Biology of Gambusia affinis and G. holbrooki

Regional ecological risk assessment for the introduction of Gambusia affinis (western mosquitofish) into Montana watersheds

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