Stickleback
Sticklebacks | |
---|---|
Four marine species of stickleback from the Atlantic Ocean coast of North America | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
Suborder: | Gasterosteoidei |
Family: | Gasterosteidae Bonaparte, 1831[1] |
Genera | |
see text |
The sticklebacks are a
Taxonomy
The stickleback family, Gasterosteidae, was first proposed as a family by the French
FishBase recognises 16 species in the family, grouped in five genera.[4] However, several of the species have a number of recognised subspecies, and the taxonomy of the family is thought to be in need of revision.
Genera
The family Gasterosteidae includes the following genera:[4]
- Apeltes DeKay, 1842
- Culaea Whitley, 1950
- Gasterosteus Linnaeus, 1758
- d'Annone, 1760
- Spinachia Cuvier, 1816
Description
Sticklebacks are endemic to the temperate zone[5] and are most commonly found in the ocean, but some can be found in fresh water. The freshwater taxa were trapped in Europe, Asia, and North America after the Ice Age 10,000–20,000 years ago, and have evolved features different from those of the marine species.[6][7]
Sticklebacks are carnivorous, feeding on small animals such as insects, crustaceans and fish larvae.[8][9]
Sticklebacks are characterised by the presence of strong and clearly isolated spines in their dorsal fins.[10] An unusual feature of sticklebacks is that they have no scales, although some species have bony armour plates.
Sizes
The maximum size of the best-known species, the
Personality
Research has shown that Sticklebacks display distinct personality traits, specifically in the area of taking a risk, and, can be considered bold or shy. These personality traits were determined to directly influence if they would lead, and if discouraged, attempt to lead again.[13]
Mating
All stickleback species show similar, unusual mating behaviour. Freshwater males develop a red colouration, and although this may be seen in oceanic and benthic species these tend to remain dull-coloured. The male then constructs a nest from weeds held together by spiggin,
Mating choice
Typically, the sex with the greatest parental investment has the strongest mate preferences.[15] Stickleback species exhibit mutual mate choice in which both the male and female have strong mate preferences. This is due in part to the strong parental investment on behalf of the male in guarding the eggs.[16]
Female mate choice
Female sticklebacks show a strong preference to male stickleback with bright red coloration under their throats. Females mate both more often with males with brighter red coloration and give on average, larger eggs to be fertilized by these males. This preference has led to brighter red coloring.[17][18] This association is possible because the red coloration can only be produced by males that are free of parasites. This is referred to in the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis.[19]
However, there is also evidence that attractive male red coloration may be a faulty signal of male quality. Male sticklebacks that are more attractive to females due to carotenoid colorants may under-allocate carotenoids to their germline cells.[20] Since carotinoids are beneficial antioxidants, their under-allocation to germline cells can lead to increased oxidative DNA damage to these cells.[20] Therefore, female sticklebacks may risk fertility and the viability of their offspring by choosing redder, but more deteriorated partners with reduced sperm quality.
Female mate choice has also been seen to be condition dependent. Females are almost always the more choosy sex in most species. Female sticklebacks though, have been found to be less choosy of mates when in poor physical condition and inversely, more choosy in good condition.[21]
Male mate choice
In some species, such as the three-spined stickleback, the large investment in both nesting site and guarding of eggs by males limits the number of females a male can mate with.[22] This introduces the ability for selection to favor male mate choice. Male mate choice is rarely studied or observed in many species but multiple studies have confirmed male mate choice within stickleback species. Males show a choosiness similar to females as to what female they are willing to court and mate. Male sticklebacks have been observed to show preference towards female sticklebacks that are larger and longer. This is believed to be because larger females on average produce larger eggs, which leads to a greater offspring survival and fitness.[16] In addition, male sticklebacks have also been observed to prefer females with more distended or bloated stomachs. The benefits of this is also due to larger eggs and thus offspring survival and fitness[23]
Inbreeding avoidance
Female three-spined sticklebacks adjust their courting behaviour to the risk of inbreeding.[24] When gravid females are given the choice between a courting unfamiliar non-sibling and a familiar brother, they prefer to mate with the non-sibling and thus avoid the disadvantages that accompany incest.[24] Eggs from inbred matings compared to eggs from outbred matings have a lower rate of fertilization and hatching, and fewer progeny survive to reproductive age.[24]
Use in science
In culture
There is a sculpture in
References
- ^ PMID 25543675.
- ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6.
- PMID 28683774.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). "Gasterosteidae" in FishBase. October 2012 version.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-12-618030-5. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- JSTOR 2406161.
- JSTOR 2412489.
- ^ The Repeater - NYTimes.com
- ^ ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
- S2CID 1296135.
- ^ a b "Three-spined stickleback". Gma.org. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Spinachia spinachia" in FishBase. April 2014 version.
- ^ "Stickleback fish show initiative, personality and leadership". phys.org. Retrieved 2020-06-26.
- S2CID 53183473.
- PMID 11958700.
- ^ S2CID 21298270.
- PMID 12123300.
- .
- S2CID 4322443.
- ^ a b Kim SY, Velando A. Attractive male sticklebacks carry more oxidative DNA damage in the soma and germline. J Evol Biol. 2020 Jan;33(1):121-126. doi: 10.1111/jeb.13552. Epub 2019 Nov 7. PMID 31610052
- S2CID 205043554.
- OCLC 39641701.
- S2CID 54356731.
- ^ a b c Frommen JG, Bakker TC. Inbreeding avoidance through non-random mating in sticklebacks. Biol Lett. 2006 Jun 22;2(2):232-5. doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2005.0432. PMID 17148370; PMCID: PMC1618905
- ^ Kingsley, D.M. and Peichel, C.L. (2007) The molecular genetics of evolutionary change in sticklebacks. in Biology of the three-spinestickleback. Ostlund-Nillson, S., Mayer, I. and Huntingford, F.A. (eds). CRC Press. pp. 41-81
- S2CID 82257399. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
- PMID 22481358.
- PMID 33909459.
External links
- View the gasAcu1 genome assembly in the UCSC Genome Browser.
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.