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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