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Godoy RS, Weber V, Lanés LEK, Reichard M, Gemelli T, Hohendorff RV, Maltchik L. Recognizing the enemy: do predator cues influence hatching in Neotropical annual killifish? JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1476-1484. [PMID: 34287870 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Annual fish species have evolved complex adaptations to survive in temporary wetlands. The main adaptation of these fish is the ability to produce embryos that survive dry periods. Embryo development of this fish can show variation at multiple levels influenced by many environmental factors, such as photoperiod and temperature. Predator cues are another factor that can influence the embryonic stage. One way in which annual fish could adapt to predators is by using risk-spreading strategies (through bet-hedging). Nonetheless, this strategy depends on the coevolutionary history between predators and preys and on the degree of environmental unpredictability, resulting in different responses across different species. This study investigated the influence of predator cues on the embryonic development and hatching of two Austrolebias species that inhabit ponds that present differences in hydroperiod and the risk of predator presence. The results confirmed a differentiated response between the two annual fish species tested, corroborating the modulation of hatching against the risk of predation by native predatory fish. The authors further showed that development times varied between the two annual fish species, regardless of the presence of predators. They highlight that the variation in embryonic development is strongly affected by different levels of hydroperiod unpredictability faced by the two species. To unravel finer-scale local adaptations in the annual fish embryo development, future studies should focus on a region with greater spatial gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robson S Godoy
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, UNISINOS University, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Weber
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, UNISINOS University, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | - Luis Esteban Krause Lanés
- Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tanise Gemelli
- Nutrition and Food, UNISINOS University, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo Maltchik
- Postgraduate Program in Biology of Continental Aquatic Environments, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
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2
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Vrtílek M, Žák J, Polačik M, Blažek R, Reichard M. Rapid growth and large body size in annual fish populations are compromised by density-dependent regulation. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:673-678. [PMID: 31102276 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We tested the effect of population density on maximum body size in three sympatric species of annual killifishes Nothobranchius spp. from African ephemeral pools. We found a clear negative effect of population density on body size, limiting their capacity for extremely fast development and rapid growth. This suggests that density-dependent population regulation and the ephemeral character of their habitat impose contrasting selective pressures on the life history of annual killifishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Vrtílek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Žák
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Matej Polačik
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Blažek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Reichard
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
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3
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Morphological and molecular characterization of Apatemon sp. infecting killifish in Mozambique. Parasitol Int 2019; 73:101967. [PMID: 31362123 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.101967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Strigeid trematodes of the genus Apatemon Szidat, 1928 are intestinal parasites of fish-eating birds, utilizing various fish species as second intermediate hosts. In this study, we report morphometrical and molecular characterization of Apatemon sp. metacercariae parasitizing killifish Nothobranchius furzeri (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) in south-east Mozambique. Metacercariae obtained from the cerebral cavity of killifish and two adult individuals isolated from experimentally infected ducklings were used for detailed morphological and molecular description, both resulting in generic affiliation to Apatemon. This is the first molecularly confirmed record of this trematode genus in Africa. Considering the morphological variability and wide host range of individual Apatemon species, the combination of both morphological and molecular analyses is indispensable for valid identification of this parasite. The results of our molecular analysis together with phylogenetic reconstruction indicated the presence of a new African lineage, reflecting potentially high diversity within the genus Apatemon comparable with other digenean genera.
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ŽáK J, Vrtílek M, Reichard M. Diel schedules of locomotor, reproductive and feeding activity in wild populations of African annual killifish. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Diel patterns of different activities arise from adaptations to periodic cycling of environmental parameters and may involve trade-offs between acquiring benefits and minimizing associated costs. In this study, we provide fundamental baseline data on diel activity of natural populations of Nothobranchius fishes, model organisms in laboratory studies, including links between diurnal rhythms and ageing. Initially, we quantified the diel change in activity in wild populations of three African killifish species (Nothobranchius furzeri, Nothobranchius orthonotus and Nothobranchius pienaari) and compared average activity between sexes. In all species, males were more active than females, probably as a result of their active pursuit of females. Swimming activity peaked at midday. In N. furzeri, the only species occurring at all sites, oocytes were ovulated in the early morning, and most spawning events had occurred by the early afternoon. Gut fullness and diet richness increased before spawning activity and peaked in the morning. Daytime diet was dominated by chironomid larvae, whereas notonectid bugs were the dominant prey at night, perhaps as a result of different prey detectability over the diel cycle. Finally, no loyalty to any particular pool section was detected in N. furzeri. Collectively, these data provide the first empirical description of diel activity in three wild populations of African killifish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub ŽáK
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Vrtílek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Reichard
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Brno, Czech Republic
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5
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Thoré ESJ, Grégoir AF, Adriaenssens B, Philippe C, Stoks R, Brendonck L, Pinceel T. Population-, sex- and individual level divergence in life-history and activity patterns in an annual killifish. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7177. [PMID: 31293828 PMCID: PMC6599669 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in life-history strategies along a slow-fast continuum is largely governed by life-history trade-offs. The pace-of-life syndrome hypothesis (POLS) expands on this idea and suggests coevolution of these traits with personality and physiology at different levels of biological organization. However, it remains unclear to what extent covariation at different levels aligns and if also behavioral patterns such as diurnal activity changes should be incorporated. Here, we investigate variation in life-history traits as well as behavioral variation at the individual, sex and population level in the Turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. We performed a common garden laboratory experiment with four populations that differ in pond permanence and scored life-history and behavioral (co-) variation at the individual and population level for both males and females. In addition, we focused on diurnal activity change as a behavioral trait that remains understudied in ecology. Our results demonstrate sex-specific variation in adult body size and diurnal activity change among populations that originate from ponds with differences in permanence. However, there was no pond permanence-dependent divergence in maturation time, juvenile growth rate, fecundity and average activity level. With regard to behavior, individuals differed consistently in locomotor activity and diurnal activity change while, in contrast with POLS predictions, we found no indications for life-history and behavioral covariation at any level. Overall, this study illustrates that diurnal activity change differs consistently between individuals, sexes and populations although this variation does not appear to match POLS predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S J Thoré
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arnout F Grégoir
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Adriaenssens
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Philippe
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Robby Stoks
- Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Brendonck
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Tom Pinceel
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Reichard M, Polačik M. Nothobranchius furzeri, an 'instant' fish from an ephemeral habitat. eLife 2019; 8:41548. [PMID: 30616713 PMCID: PMC6324871 DOI: 10.7554/elife.41548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The turquoise killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, is a promising vertebrate model in ageing research and an emerging model organism in genomics, regenerative medicine, developmental biology and ecotoxicology. Its lifestyle is adapted to the ephemeral nature of shallow pools on the African savannah. Its rapid and short active life commences when rains fill the pool: fish hatch, grow rapidly and mature in as few as two weeks, and then reproduce daily until the pool dries out. Its embryos then become inactive, encased in the dry sediment and protected from the harsh environment until the rains return. This invertebrate-like life cycle (short active phase and long developmental arrest) combined with a vertebrate body plan provide the ideal attributes for a laboratory animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Matej Polačik
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
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7
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Vrtílek M, Žák J, Blažek R, Polačik M, Cellerino A, Reichard M. Limited scope for reproductive senescence in wild populations of a short-lived fish. Naturwissenschaften 2018; 105:68. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-018-1594-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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8
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Žák J, Reichard M, Gvoždík L. Limited differentiation of fundamental thermal niches within the killifish assemblage from shallow temporary waters. J Therm Biol 2018; 78:257-262. [PMID: 30509644 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The coexistence of ectothermic species is enabled among other factors by the differentiation of their thermal niches. While this phenomenon is well described from deep temperate lakes, it is unclear whether the same pattern applies to temporary pools. In this study, we examined fundamental thermal niches in three coexisting annual killifish species Nothobranchius furzeri, N. orthonotus and N. pienaari from temporary pools in southern Mozambique. We hypothesized that the disparate thermal requirements of the three congeneric species are a candidate niche component that facilitates their local coexistence. We estimated species' thermal requirements as preferred body temperatures (Tpref) in a horizontal thermal gradient. Under thermal gradient conditions, sympatric killifish maintained their body temperatures within similar Tpref ranges despite some variation in mean Tpref. The daily variation in water temperature in their native habitats enables killifish to thermoregulate at least for part of the diurnal cycle. We conclude that the coexistence of African annual killifish species is possible without the differentiation of their fundamental thermal niches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Žák
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12800 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Reichard
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lumír Gvoždík
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic.
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9
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Vrtílek M, Žák J, Polačik M, Blažek R, Reichard M. Longitudinal demographic study of wild populations of African annual killifish. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4774. [PMID: 29555942 PMCID: PMC5859278 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22878-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The natural history of model organisms is often overlooked despite its importance to correctly interpret the outcome of laboratory studies. Ageing is particularly understudied in natural populations. To address this gap, we present lifetime demographic data from wild populations of an annual species, the turquoise killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri, a model species in ageing research, and two other species of coexisting annual killifishes. Annual killifish hatch synchronously, have non-overlapping generations, and reproduce daily after reaching sexual maturity. Data from 13 isolated savanna pools in southern Mozambique demonstrate that the pools supporting killifish populations desiccated 1–4 months after their filling, though some pools persisted longer. Declines in population size over the season were stronger than predicted, because they exceeded the effect of steady habitat shrinking on population density that, contrary to the prediction, decreased. Populations of N. furzeri also became more female-biased with progressing season suggesting that males had lower survival. Nothobranchius community composition did not significantly vary across the season. Our data clearly demonstrate that natural populations of N. furzeri and its congeners suffer strong mortality throughout their lives, with apparent selective disappearance (condition-dependent mortality) at the individual level. This represents selective force that can shape the evolution of lifespan, and its variation across populations, beyond the effects of the gradient in habitat persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Vrtílek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Žák
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Viničná 7, Praha 2, 128 44, Czech Republic
| | - Matej Polačik
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Blažek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Květná 8, Brno, 603 65, Czech Republic.
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10
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Vrtílek M, Polačik M, Reichard M. The role of energetic reserves during embryonic development of an annual killifish. Dev Dyn 2017; 246:838-847. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Milan Vrtílek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Matej Polačik
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic; Brno Czech Republic
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