Egg Stranding in the Life Cycle of the Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus

Taylor, Malcolm H.; Michele, Leonard Di; Leach, Glenn J.

doi:10.2307/1443929

Cited by 88 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…The Japanese mudskipper Periophthalmus modestus incubates embryos in air-filled chambers under water, built into mudflats and filled with air by the action of the parents (Ishimatsu et al, 2007). Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) embryos are periodically exposed to an aerial environment during low tides where they hatch earlier relative to embryos in water (Taylor et al, 1977;Tingaud-Sequeira et al, 2009. Finally, embryos of some other killifish species, such as Austrofundulus limnaeus, enter diapause under terrestrial conditions and limit desiccation by reducing water permeability (Podrabsky et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish embryos on land: terrestrial embryo deposition lowers oxygen uptake without altering growth or survival in the amphibious fishKryptolebias marmoratus

Wells

Turko

Wright

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Few teleost fishes incubate embryos out of water, but the oxygen-rich terrestrial environment could provide advantages for early growth and development. We tested the hypothesis that embryonic oxygen uptake is limited in aquatic environments relative to air using the selffertilizing amphibious mangrove rivulus, Kryptolebias marmoratus, which typically inhabits hypoxic, water-filled crab burrows. We found that adult mangrove rivulus released twice as many embryos in terrestrial versus aquatic environments and that air-reared embryos had accelerated developmental rates. Surprisingly, air-reared embryos consumed 44% less oxygen and possessed larger yolk reserves, but attained the same mass, length and chorion thickness. Water-reared embryos moved their opercula ∼2.5 more times per minute compared with air-reared embryos at 7 days post-release, which probably contributed to the higher rates of oxygen uptake and yolk utilization we observed. Genetically identical air-and waterreared embryos from the same parent were raised to maturity, but the embryonic environment did not affect growth, reproduction or emersion ability in adults. Therefore, although aspects of early development were plastic, these early differences were not sustained into adulthood. Kryptolebias marmoratus embryos hatched out of water when exposed to aerial hypoxia. We conclude that exposure to a terrestrial environment reduces the energetic costs of development partly by reducing the necessity of embryonic movements to dispel stagnant boundary layers. Terrestrial incubation of young would be especially beneficial to amphibious fishes that occupy aquatic habitats of poor water quality, assuming low terrestrial predation and desiccation risks.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fish embryos on land: terrestrial embryo deposition lowers oxygen uptake without altering growth or survival in the amphibious fishKryptolebias marmoratus

Wells

Turko

Wright

2015

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The relatively large (2 mm diameter) eggs are deposited at high tide on marsh vegetation and in other protected sites high in the intertidal zone (Able 1984). Although larvae are fully developed in 7 to 8 d (at 25"C), hatching often is delayed until stimulated by tidal immersion during the series of spring tides following those on which the eggs were spawned (Taylor et al 1977, DiMichele & Taylor 1980. The strong influence of the lunar-tidal cycle in synchronizing both spawning and hatching in this species results in the production of multiple, dlstinct cohorts of larvae at intervals of 12 to 15 d. The principal nursery for this species is the intertidal marsh surface where, at low tide, larvae and small juveniles (< 20 mm) are abundant in high marsh pools and shallow (only mm deep) puddles of residual tidal water in low-lying areas between clumps of vegetation (Kneib 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth and mortality in successive cohorts of fish larvae within an estuarine nursery

Kneib¹

1993

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The young of many coastal fishes appear on estuarine nursery grounds in a progression of successive cohorts, few of which encounter identical environmental conditions. Using in situ manipulations, I explored the effects of natural environmental variability and use of a nursery habitat by prior cohorts on growth and mortality rates in successive larval cohorts of the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus, a cyprinodontid fish common in salt marshes along the east coast of North America. Variation in mean daily specific rates of growth ( G = 0.027 to 0.143) and mortality (Z = 0.007 to 0.1 18) within a n d among cohorts was associated with the tidal cycle. Growth rate was positively associated and mortality rate negatively associated with the duration of tidal flooding experienced by groups of fish larvae. Tidal flooding may have affected growth and survival by controlling the renewal rate of prey resources (primarily harpacticoid copepods) in intertidal aquatic microhabitats where the fish larvae are normally found. Overall high survival (up to 90 % after 2 wk) of larvae in experimental cohorts was attributed to the exclusion of predators from field enclosures. Successive cohorts of larvae were not nutritionally independent and use of the nursery habitat by a prior cohort usually had a negative effect on survival of larvae in the next cohort. These findings challenge the general tenet that fish larvae are not foodlimited in nurseries and suggest how variation in the phys~cal environment can restrict food availability even in a highly productive estuarine habitat. The spawnlng pattern of F heteroclitusseems to combine features from along a continuum of reproductive strategies exhibited by other marine fishes and may contribute to maintaining a large and stable population in a fluctuating estuarine environment.

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“…1959, Taylor et al 1977, DiMichele & Taylor 1980 In the case of Leuresthes tenuis, eggs usually remain out of water for about 10 d. and hatching occurs when high tides of the next series of spring tides flood the stranded eggs. In addition, if the high tides fail to reach the eggs, some can remain alive for another 2 wk (Walker 1952(Walker , 1959.…”

Section: Discussion Egg Survival During Incubationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hatching success affects the timing of spawning by the intertidally spawning puffer Takifugu niphobles

Yamahira¹

1997

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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ABSTRACT-The puffer T a k~f u g u niphobles, which is an Intertidal spawner and deposits eggs in the upper intert~dal zone, spaivns on sevrral days of every spring tide d u n n g spring to summer (i.e the semilunar spdwnlng cycle). As the season progresses, however, the tlming of spawnlng cvents progressively s h~f t s from just before to just after the new or full moon. This study explains why there is the seasonal shift In the timing of spawning from the viewpoint of larval hatching success. Larval sampling in the field and rearlng experiments in the laboratory indicated that hatching occurred only when the nighttime h~g h t~d e s flood the stranded eggs. Accord~ng to ambient temperatures, incubation penods tended to b e shorter as the season progressed. Therefore. spawning occurs prior to the peak s p n n g t~d e s (dates of new and full moons) early In the season to allow sufficient t~m e for completion of embryological devclopment prior to the occurrence of neap tides, which may not flood the intertidal spawnlng site. The relationship between the zone of stranded eggs and the tidal reglme at the site indicated that most of the completely developed embryos can be successfully submerged by nighttime high tides for the greater part of the season Quadrat sampling of eggs showed that many embryos died because of temperature stress during Intertidal incubat~on. The most advantageous time for embryo surv~val IS, especially later in the season, after the peak spring tides when the intertidal zone is inundated a t midday and temperatures are moderated by the water cover T h e progressive shift in the timing of spawning is the result of a seasonal trade-off between the embryo survival during intertidal incubation and successful h a t c h~n g during periods of submel-gence.KEY WORDS: Egg survi\~al Incubat~on . Larvae Hatchlng success . Tides T i m~n g of spawning .

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Egg Stranding in the Life Cycle of the Mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus

Cited by 88 publications

References 0 publications

Fish embryos on land: terrestrial embryo deposition lowers oxygen uptake without altering growth or survival in the amphibious fishKryptolebias marmoratus

Fish embryos on land: terrestrial embryo deposition lowers oxygen uptake without altering growth or survival in the amphibious fishKryptolebias marmoratus

Growth and mortality in successive cohorts of fish larvae within an estuarine nursery

Hatching success affects the timing of spawning by the intertidally spawning puffer Takifugu niphobles

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