Relationship between hatch date and first-summer growth of five species of prairie-stream cyprinids

Abstract

SynopsisStream fishes often exhibit a bet-hedging multiple spawning reproductive strategy. In many species, the reproductive season lasts several months. This exposes young fishes to varying environmental conditions that may differentially affect growth. We studied the effect of hatch date on first-summer growth among members of a prairie-stream fish assemblage. The reproductive season in both years of the study was protracted, lasting from April through August. Due to intermittent stream-discharge, there were two distinct periods during which most species successfully reproduced. In general, growth rate was greater among individuals with an early hatch date than among those with a later hatch date. Multiple regression models indicated that hatch date was related to growth in all study species with one exception (red shiner, Cyprinella lutrensis). The results of this study provide evidence that young-of-the-year of multiple spawning stream-fish species that are spawned late in the season may grow at a slower rate than young spawned earlier in the season.

Reproductive strategy, spawning induction, spawning temperatures and early life history of captive sicklefin chub Macrhybopsis meeki

“…meeki during the spawning season. In batch spawners, spawn frequency and eggs per spawn can be affected by food resources (Wootton, ), high water events (Durham & Wilde, ; Falke et al ., ) and adequate spawning temperatures (Hay et al ., ; Falke et al ., ). Even so, M .…”

“…days to months), broadcasting semi‐buoyant non‐adhesive eggs that would not need substratum to develop but rather develop as they drift downstream. Macrhybopsis meeki larval and gonadal evidence of this spawning strategy occurs throughout the summer (Dieterman et al ., ; Reeves, ), indicating a batch spawning strategy common in highly variable riverine environments (Durham & Wilde, , ; Falke et al ., ). This would suggest that historically, this strategy of reproduction would have been so advantageous in these environments as to render three unrelated genera of Cyprinidae to independently evolve this spawning strategy (Moyer et al ., ; Hoagstrom & Turner, ).…”

Spawning period of Mediterranean marine fishes

“…over 4 months. Multiple and protracted spawning strategies expose early life stages and young fishes to variable spatial or temporal environmental conditions (Durham and Wilde 2005). Fish that are characterised by protracted spawning period aim at ensuring that at least some of their larvae will encounter favourable conditions for their survival and growth (Sherman et al 1984).…”

Movement patterns and dispersal potential of Pecos bluntnose shiner (Notropis simus pecosensis) revealed using otolith microchemistry

“…For these fishes, spawning occurs throughout the summer and is cued to not only high-flow events (synchrony), but across a range of flow conditions. This spreads reproduction throughout a season, resulting in multiple opportunities (asynchrony) as a bethedging strategy to increase chances of young surviving to recruitment (Durham and Wilde 2005;Durham and Wilde 2008).…”