Nest Association of Dusky Shiners (Notropis cummingsae) and Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus), a Potentially Parasitic Relationship

Fletcher, Dean E.

doi:10.2307/1446306

Cited by 39 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…These results support the hypothesis that a selfish herd or dilution effect may be acting to the benefit of the host. The eggs of hosts and associates are mixed together in green sunfish nests, a finding supported by other studies on this and other species (Hunter and Hasler 1965;Steele 1978;Fletcher 1993), which suggests that dilution may be the mechanism protecting host eggs from predation. In this experiment, the eggs of the host were diluted 15% with associate eggs and the amount of dilution was highly variable, a finding similar to that of other studies (Steele 1978;Fletcher 1993).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…Studies suggest that nest association is beneficial to hosts in some systems (Carr 1942(Carr , 1946Goff 1984;Vives, 1988) and detrimental in others (Baba et al 1990;Fletcher 1993), although no experimental work has been conducted. I have demonstrated that nest associates benefit from the strategy via the parental care of the host, and not from the physical characteristics of the nest (Johnston 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nest association in fishes: evidence for mutualism

Johnston

1994

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Nest association, or the habit of spawning in the nest of another species, is a widespread reproductive strategy among North American fishes, especially minnows. The hosts of nest associates include sunfishes and nest-building minnows. Previous experiments demonstrated that nest associates benefited from the parental care of hosts. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nest associates on hosts, and thereby characterize the relationship as parasitic, mutualistic or commensal. Since hosts with associates had higher reproductive success than those without associates in this experiment, I characterize nest association as a mutualistic relationship, at least in some systems. The dilution effect is the proposed mechanism responsible for the higher reproductive success of hosts with associates.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest association in fishes: evidence for mutualism

Johnston

1994

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…However, we still know relatively little about the basic mechanisms that determine host and associate behavior (Wallin 1992;Johnston 1994a;Shao 1997b) or interaction outcomes (Fletcher 1993;Johnston 1994b;Shao 1997a). For instance, a logical next step would be to compare fitness outcomes of associates on nests of both host species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nesting microhabitat comparison of Central stoneroller and Bluehead chub: potential inference for host-switching by nest associates

Peoples

Floyd

Frimpong

2015

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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Several nest-building North American minnows (Cyprinidae) function as reproductive hosts to nest associatesÀspecies that require nests of other species for spawning. Understanding the microhabitat preferences of hosts can yield insight into the reproductive ecology of many species, especially of nest associates that can utilize nests of two or more hosts. We observed nests of Central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum in which several associate species were actively spawning. Bluehead chubs Nocomis leptocephalus began constructing nests two days later in the same stream, at which time associates abandoned stoneroller nests and continued on to spawn on chub nests. This presented a unique opportunity for accomplishing two objectives: (1) quantifying stoneroller nesting microhabitat preference and (2) comparing stoneroller and chub habitat preference to gain insight into the mechanisms that may drive host switching by nest associates. We measured substrate size, current velocity, water depth, and egg depth on seven paired stoneroller and chub nests, and compared these measurements to paired microhabitat measurements at a randomly selected point near each nest. Repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey tests revealed that stonerollers exhibited distinct nesting microhabitat preferences from chubs. Gravel on stoneroller nests was considerably smaller than on chub nests and stonerollers nested in shallower depths than chubs. However, both species nested at similar current velocities. If nest associates switch partners based on the physical characteristics of nests, then substrate size is likely the most important factor. The larger gravel sizes on chub nests likely provide better egg aeration than stoneroller nests. Chub nests may also be safer for associate broods because male Bluehead chubs cover eggs with gravel after spawning; stonerollers do not. Future work should take an experimental approach to elucidate these mechanisms.

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“…For example, many cyprinid species are known to spawn on nests created by other nest-building cyprinids and centrarchids (Fletcher and Burr, 1992;Johnston and Page, 1992). Such relationships may be obligative or facultative ( Johnston and Page, 1992;Wallin, 1992) and could potentially be mutualistic or parasitic (Fletcher, 1993;Johnston, 1994). A number of costs and benefits are involved in these nest associations, but the one primarily applicable to Pirate Perch is the modification of habitat into a suitable spawning substrate by the nest-building species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%