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Environmental control of salinity preferences in four sympatric species of sticklebacks: Gasterosteus aculeatus, Gasterosteus wheatlandi, Pungitius pungitius and Apeltes quadracus

1986; Wiley; Volume: 28; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1095-8649.1986.tb05206.x

1095-8649

Céline Audet, Gérard J. FitzGerald, Helga Guderley,

Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock

Salinity preferences of four sympatric species of sticklebacks ( Gasterosteus aculeatus, Gasterosteus wheatlandi, Pungitius pungitius, Apelles quadracus ) were studied after acclimation to different regimes of photoperiod and temperature. The results indicate that photoperiod and temperature influence salinity preferences of G. aculeatus, G. wheatlandi and A. quadracus but that they are virtually without effect in the case of P. pungitius. Moreover, the overall photoperiod effects on salinity preferences are in accordance with the migratory movements of G. aculeatus and A. quadracus. The effect of temperature was more difficult to analyse because of its unnatural timing. It is clear, however, that temperature is involved in the regulation of salinity preferences of G. aculeatus and perhaps of G. wheatlandi. The relative importance of external factors in the adjustment of salinity preferences differed for the four species. However, the results suggest that for G. aculeatus and A. quadracus salinity preferences are an important component of the orientation mechanisms used during their seasonal migrations.