Investigation of the ecology of introduced species in new habitats can allow determinations of the degree, direction, and rate of evolutionary change. The introduction of Gambusia holbrooki in the southern Caspian Sea...Investigation of the ecology of introduced species in new habitats can allow determinations of the degree, direction, and rate of evolutionary change. The introduction of Gambusia holbrooki in the southern Caspian Sea presents such a situation. We evaluated the life history traits of mosquitofish in the Tajan River basin. A total of 744 G. holbrooki specimens were collected between January and December 2008. The maximum observed ages are 0+ years for males and 1+ years for females. Both sexes grew allometrically (negative for males: b=2.442 and positive for females: b=3.232). The overall sex ratio is unbalanced and dominated by females. GSI values suggest that this population of G. holbrooki matures between February–July. The highest mean GSI value is 1.80 for males and 15.97 for females in May. Egg diameter ranges from 1.00 to 3.00 mm with a mean value of 2.098 mm. Absolute fecundity varied from 7 to 57 eggs. Both ova diameter and absolute fecundity were positively correlated to fish size (length and weight). Fecundity relative to total weight fluctuated from 34.44 to 582.64 eggs/g, and to total length from 2.33 to 12.95 eggs/cm. Both were negatively correlated with female size. The characteristics of this population are important with respect to life history of the species.展开更多
Within the wide distribution of Lenkoran in Iran, populations of the species inhabit variety of habitats. The authors hypothesized that each river may contribute to habitat-specific variation in life history of the fi...Within the wide distribution of Lenkoran in Iran, populations of the species inhabit variety of habitats. The authors hypothesized that each river may contribute to habitat-specific variation in life history of the fish. To test this, a total of 378 specimens of Capoeta capoeta gracilis caught in the Atrak river （northern Iran） from Dec. 2007 to Nov. 2008 were examined for life history attributes. The population has a 5-year life cycle. Weight-length relationship （WLR） was estimated as W = 0.0127TL28981 for males, W = 0.0083TL3998 for females and W = 0.0084TL3942 for the population, being allometric negative for males and positive for females and the population. The VBGF fit to back-calculated size at age data were： Lt = 22.11 （1-e-0.19（t＋135））, Lt = 25.37 （1-e-0.18（t＋125）） and Lt = 24.92 （1-e-018（1＋122）） for males, females and sexes combined respectively. Sex ratio was significant from the parity, females dominated. The reproductive season, evaluated from GSI, extended from Apr. to July, with the highest peak in May for males and in Apr. for females. The absolute fecundity ranged between 458-5,743 eggs with a mean of 1,375.06 eggs. Fecundity relative to total weight fluctuated from 14.90 to 132.58, with a mean value of 48.79 eggs·g-1. The diameter of oocytes ranged from 0.53 to 2.40 mm with a mean value of 1.46. The life history patterns of C. c. gracilis in the considered population imply that the many population characteristics of this species in the river differ markedly from those of other rivers of its range distribution in northern Iran. Probably, respond to environmental characteristics to improve fitness locally is the more suitable choice for differentiated life history strategies of the species in the river.展开更多
文摘Investigation of the ecology of introduced species in new habitats can allow determinations of the degree, direction, and rate of evolutionary change. The introduction of Gambusia holbrooki in the southern Caspian Sea presents such a situation. We evaluated the life history traits of mosquitofish in the Tajan River basin. A total of 744 G. holbrooki specimens were collected between January and December 2008. The maximum observed ages are 0+ years for males and 1+ years for females. Both sexes grew allometrically (negative for males: b=2.442 and positive for females: b=3.232). The overall sex ratio is unbalanced and dominated by females. GSI values suggest that this population of G. holbrooki matures between February–July. The highest mean GSI value is 1.80 for males and 15.97 for females in May. Egg diameter ranges from 1.00 to 3.00 mm with a mean value of 2.098 mm. Absolute fecundity varied from 7 to 57 eggs. Both ova diameter and absolute fecundity were positively correlated to fish size (length and weight). Fecundity relative to total weight fluctuated from 34.44 to 582.64 eggs/g, and to total length from 2.33 to 12.95 eggs/cm. Both were negatively correlated with female size. The characteristics of this population are important with respect to life history of the species.
文摘Within the wide distribution of Lenkoran in Iran, populations of the species inhabit variety of habitats. The authors hypothesized that each river may contribute to habitat-specific variation in life history of the fish. To test this, a total of 378 specimens of Capoeta capoeta gracilis caught in the Atrak river （northern Iran） from Dec. 2007 to Nov. 2008 were examined for life history attributes. The population has a 5-year life cycle. Weight-length relationship （WLR） was estimated as W = 0.0127TL28981 for males, W = 0.0083TL3998 for females and W = 0.0084TL3942 for the population, being allometric negative for males and positive for females and the population. The VBGF fit to back-calculated size at age data were： Lt = 22.11 （1-e-0.19（t＋135））, Lt = 25.37 （1-e-0.18（t＋125）） and Lt = 24.92 （1-e-018（1＋122）） for males, females and sexes combined respectively. Sex ratio was significant from the parity, females dominated. The reproductive season, evaluated from GSI, extended from Apr. to July, with the highest peak in May for males and in Apr. for females. The absolute fecundity ranged between 458-5,743 eggs with a mean of 1,375.06 eggs. Fecundity relative to total weight fluctuated from 14.90 to 132.58, with a mean value of 48.79 eggs·g-1. The diameter of oocytes ranged from 0.53 to 2.40 mm with a mean value of 1.46. The life history patterns of C. c. gracilis in the considered population imply that the many population characteristics of this species in the river differ markedly from those of other rivers of its range distribution in northern Iran. Probably, respond to environmental characteristics to improve fitness locally is the more suitable choice for differentiated life history strategies of the species in the river.
