The Costs and Benefits of Territorial Neighbours in a Texas Pupfish (Cyprinodon Bovinus)

Leiser, John K.; Itzkowitz, Murray

doi:10.1163/156853903763999926

Cited by 20 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Second, we examined G. nobilis behaviour in relation to C. bovinus reproduction. C. bovinus males defend territories on a breeding shelf and share costs of defence against G. nobilis that potentially eat pupfish eggs and interrupt spawnings by intruding into territories and garnering aggression (Leiser & Itzkowitz 2003). As the number of territorial males' declines, however, they may no longer be effective at defending against intruders and consequently suffer increased egg predation or complete spawning failure. )…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is the only habitat for C. bovinus while G. nobilis is found in three other Chihuahuan desert spring systems (Hubbs et al 2002). C. bovinus has a promiscuous breeding system and males exhibit alternative reproductive tactics with large males defending territories while smaller males acquire spawnings as non-territorial satellites or sneakers (Leiser & Itzkowitz 2003). In the Diamond Y head pool, males defend territories on a rocky shelf (1!3 m 2 ) which is the only known breeding grounds in the pool and associated outflow stream.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The breeding tactic of the spawning male could not be identified in all photographs, but when possible was identified as territorial or satellite based on male size and location on the breeding shelf. Satellite males are smaller in size ( Leiser & Itzkowitz 2003) and the territorial male spawned in a restricted area of the shelf with identifiable landmarks. Data were analysed using unpaired t-tests with STATVIEW v. 5.0.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Conservation and conflict between endangered desert fishes

2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conservation of naturally sympatric endangered species requires unique considerations. While impacts of invasive species garner much attention, interactions between endangered species must also be managed. The endangered Leon Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus, has suffered a population decline due to decreasing natural habitat. As breeding habitat is lost, C. bovinus is also adversely affected by the sympatric, endangered Pecos gambusia, Gambusia nobilis. Here, we document interactions between these species, finding significantly more G. nobilis accumulated at pupfish spawning events than randomly distributed on breeding grounds in the absence of spawning. As a known egg predator, our results suggest that G. nobilis presence at spawnings may further decrease pupfish numbers while also altering the evolutionary dynamics of C. bovinus breeding tactics. Habitat restoration may decrease Gambusia concentrations or influence C. bovinus breeding behaviour and increase the number of territorial males resulting in viable population sizes for both critically endangered fishes.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Conservation and conflict between endangered desert fishes

2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Like other species of pupfish, breeding occurs only in shallow pools, with the largest pupfish males defending territories and females entering to spawn and leave eggs. These territorial male pupfish engage in the majority of spawnings with promiscuous females, while nonterritorial male pupfish spawn significantly less often (Leiser & Itzkowitz 2003). The gambusia are distributed throughout the pool, though they typically concentrate in the shallow habitat of the pupfish.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The gambusia are distributed throughout the pool, though they typically concentrate in the shallow habitat of the pupfish. These fishes have been monitored for almost two decades, and significant pupfish population reductions have been apparent, with just one territorial male in 2006 (Gumm et al 2008) down from over 50 territorial males in 1998 (Leiser & Itzkowitz 2003). The initial loss of about half of the pupfish territories is attributed to emergent plants, such as bulrush (Scripus robustus), which eliminated large portions of the pupfish's spawning areas (Gumm et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endangered species interactions suggest a role for personality and behavioral syndromes in conservation efforts

Snekser¹,

Wynne

Itzkowitz

2015

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conservation efforts should consider many aspects of the endangered species' life history and behavioral ecology. Additionally, when multiple endangered species interact, those relationships must also be considered when exploring recovery plans for either or both species. In our continued efforts to conserve the critically endangered Leon Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus), we explored consistency in aggression toward the endangered sympatric Pecos gambusia (Gambusia nobilis), that attempt to prey upon pupfish eggs during spawnings. We repeatedly observed 13 territorial male pupfish and measured individual aggression, focusing on defensive chases against gambusia and interactions with other pupfish. Short-distance chases at gambusia and chases of territorial neighbors were significantly repeatable, indicating that pupfish show behavioral consistency, or "personality". Moreover, male pupfish that gave more short chases to gambusia experienced higher spawning success. Together, these data suggest that personality can predict reproductive success and thus should be considered by managers working to conserve endangered populations. Conservationists should take into consideration that differential reproductive success may certainly be relevant to the recovery of at-risk species.

show abstract

A review of the Leon springs pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus) long‐term conservation strategy and response to habitat restoration

Black

Snekser²,

Al-Shaer

et al. 2015

Aquatic Conservation

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Choosing an optimal strategy to sustain imperilled wild populations is challenging, and many methods may be implemented before reaching an effective strategy. A review of previous conservation efforts used to maintain an endangered desert pupfish (Cyprinidon bovinus) are presented here. Conservation strategies for C. bovinus have included removal of fish hybridizing with a non‐native species, reintroduction of captive‐bred C. bovinus into their historic range, and habitat restoration and expansion. In general, these methods have successfully increased the C. bovinus population over a 15‐year period, with habitat expansion appearing to be the most critical intervention method. Habitat restorations that increased the available breeding habitat for C. bovinus and the total number of breeding males were also associated with a downward trend in individual male reproductive behaviour. Since habitat expansion resulted in unexpected consequences for reproductive ecology, it emphasizes the importance not only of monitoring species abundance but also of evaluating individual reproductive behaviour when implementing conservation strategies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

The Costs and Benefits of Territorial Neighbours in a Texas Pupfish (Cyprinodon Bovinus)

Cited by 20 publications

References 33 publications

Conservation and conflict between endangered desert fishes

Conservation and conflict between endangered desert fishes

Endangered species interactions suggest a role for personality and behavioral syndromes in conservation efforts

A review of the Leon springs pupfish (Cyprinodon bovinus) long‐term conservation strategy and response to habitat restoration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About