In the surf zone: Reproductive strategy of the calico surfperch (Amphistichus koelzi) in a comparative context

Abstract

We examined the reproductive life history of calico surfperch (Amphistichus koelzi), including mating season, pregnancy, gestation and multiple paternity utilizing restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing. Furthermore, we compared the mating season of calico with barred (Amphistichus argenteus), walleye (Hyperprosopon argenteum) and silver (Hyperprosopon ellipticum) surfperches to determine if the timing of reproduction is divergent within and between the genera. In calico surfperch, the mating season occurs from October to November, and females gestate from December to May. All broods exhibit multiple paternity with a range of four to seven sires per brood. The mating season of calico overlaps completely with barred surfperch; however, barred surfperches have a protracted mating season which extends until the beginning of December, which may be due to differences in reproductive strategy such as size at first reproduction. In the genus, the Hyperprosopon mating season begins earlier than Amphistichus, with divergence in the onset of mating between Hyperprosopon congeners of approximately 1 month.

Ecomorphological relations of sympatric juveniles of Clupeiformes from a Brazilian sandy beach

“…Surf zone environments are used by several fish species in their early life stages due to their dynamism that provides nutrient cycling and stimulates the phytoplanktonic activity. This provides a considerable availability of food, not only for fishes alone but also for their potential prey items, such as microcrustaceans (Beyst et al, 1999;Yu et al, 2003;Salant & Shanks, 2018;Izumiyama et al, 2020;Guerreiro et al, 2021), an important factor for the occurrence of Clupeiformes juveniles in such environment. Besides their phylogenetic proximity, their morphological differences and temporal variation in abundance throughout the year imply in distinct environmental interactions and resource use (Chesson, 1985;Mouchet et al, 2013;Silva et al, 2017) responsible for the coexistence of these clupeiforms in coastal areas.…”

“…Surf zones are highly energetic environments where much of the waves' energy is dissipated as they break on the shore (Peregrine, 1998). Despite presenting intense wave action over the communities that live there (McLachlan, 1990), surf zones serve as nursery environments to several marine species as they present high phytoplankton productivity, elevated turbidity, nutrients cycling and shelter against predators (Salant & Shanks, 2018;Izumiyama et al, 2020). In this way, they serve as an adequate habitat to larval stages of fish species which develop into adult phase in this environment (Godefroid et al, 1999), and for others that complete their life cycle in surf zones (Monteiro-Neto et al, 2003).…”

Surfperches versus Damselfishes: Trophic Evolution in Closely Related Pharyngognath Fishes with Highly Divergent Reproductive Strategies

“…The surfperches (Embiotocidae; Ovalentaria; Acanthomorphata) are a family of viviparous, primarily marine, acanthomorph fishes endemic to the coastal North Pacific ( Bernardi and Bucciarelli 1999 ; Longo and Bernardi 2015 ). They have internal fertilization and undergo prolonged development within pouches inside their mother's ovaries whence they derive nutrients ( Baltz and Knight 1983 ; Bernardi 2005 ; Izumiyama et al. 2020 ).…”

“…2020 ). Surfperches are not born until they have reached the equivalent of at least the juvenile stage of most other fishes, and some males are born sexually mature ( Baltz and Knight 1983 ; Schmitt and Holbrook 1984 ; Schultz 1993 ; Izumiyama et al. 2020 ).…”