Morphogenesis of the gonopodium in Gambusia affinis affinis

Turner, C. L.

doi:10.1002/jmor.1050690107

Cited by 152 publications

(128 citation statements)

References 1 publication

Supporting

Mentioning

116

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The criteria for sexual maturity of males was the presence of a fully formed gonopodium (Turner 1941), while for females it was the presence of an anal spot (i.e. dark concentration of melanophores appearing above the gonoduct; Farr & Travis 1986, Constantz 1989).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history variation along a salinity gradient in coastal marshes

Martin¹,

Hitch²,

Purcell³

et al. 2009

Aquat. Biol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Coastal habitats are susceptible to changes in the environment associated with alterations in salinity. A field study was conducted on natural populations of the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna, the western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis and the least killifish Heterandria formosa collected from coastal marsh sites along a salinity gradient, to investigate the influence of salinity on body condition and reproductive life history traits. In brackish marsh sites male P. latipinna had the best body conditions, while females had similar body conditions across all 3 marsh types. Female P. latipinna had greater reproductive allotment and fecundity in brackish marshes, where this fish was most abundant. Specimens of G. affinis collected from fresh marsh sites had less favorable body condition, and females had lower reproductive allotment and fecundity than those collected from higher salinities. While G. affinis was more abundant in freshwater marshes than in higher salinity marshes, this higher abundance did not correspond with a better body condition or higher reproductive effort, suggesting that G. affinis may be stressed in freshwater. There was no difference in the conditions between (both male and female) H. formosa from fresh and intermediate marshes. Female H. formosa from fresh marshes had a similar reproductive allotment and lower fecundity than those from intermediate marshes. The 3 species exhibited different life history patterns along the salinity gradient, and some of these patterns conflicted with expectations based on species abundances. When assessing habitat quality along an environmental gradient, measures of abundance should be accompanied by more sensitive indicators of environmental stress.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history variation along a salinity gradient in coastal marshes

Martin¹,

Hitch²,

Purcell³

et al. 2009

Aquat. Biol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Males transfer the spermatheca to females using a highly modified anal fin called the gonopodium. Gonopodial development is androgen dependent and can be induced in females exposed exogenously to androgens (47,48). It has been hypothesized that bacterial biotransformation of plant sterols in the effluent generates the androgens responsible for the observed masculinization of female mosquitofish exposed to paper mill effluent (49).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Aromatase activity in the ovary and brain of the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) exposed to paper mill effluent.

Orlando

Davis

Guillette

2002

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Endocrine DisruptorsStudies have shown that female mosquitofish living downstream of a paper mill located on the Fenholloway River, Florida, have masculinized secondary sex characteristics, including altered anal fin development and reproductive behavior. Masculinization can be caused by exposure to androgens in the water or from an alteration in aromatase activity in the fish. We hypothesized that aromatase activity would be inhibited by a component(s) of the paper mill effluent. Aromatase inhibition could masculinize the hormonal profile and, subsequently, secondary sex characteristics of the exposed females. Therefore, we predicted that ovarian and brain aromatase activity would be lower in the female mosquitofish from the Fenholloway River compared with the reference site, the Econfina River. Adult females were collected and standard length, body mass, anal fin length, and segment number were measured. Ovarian and brain aromatase activity were determined using a tritiated water assay.

show abstract

“…Sex ratios in small mollies.-In poeciHidfishes, male growth slows dramatically or ceases once sexual maturity is attained (Turner, 1941;Krumholz, 1963;Hubbs, 1964;Kallman et al, 1973;Constantz, 1975); and P. latipinna males often mature at less than 20 mm SL. Thus, many males from successive cohorts may become "frozen" at a small size; and females rapidly outgrow their male cohort-mates.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, maturation of immature males may be inhibited by the presence of larger mature males (Borowsky, 1973b;Sohn, 1977aSohn, , 1977b. (6) In most poeciliids the growth of males slows or ceases once sexual maturity is attained (Turner, 1941;Krumholz, 1963;Hubbs, 1964;Kallman et al, 1973;Constantz, 1975).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%