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Presentation Title | Effects of Domestication on Life History Traits in the Trinidadian Guppy Poecilia reticulata |
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Presenting Author Name | Allison Durland Donahou |
Presenting Author Affiliation | School of Natural Resources and Environment, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, University of Florida |
Presenting Author Email | Email hidden; Javascript is required. |
Presentation Number | 7 |
Unit Meeting | Florida Chapter |
Symposium | Florida Chapter Session |
General Topic | Freshwater, Non-native fish |
Type of Presentation | Oral |
Abstract | Florida is a hotspot for non-native species; however, not all non-natives that are introduced become established. Many introduced fish species come from the production environment. Domestication may alter life history traits due to changes in selection pressures, such as decreased predation pressure and controlled feeding, potentially altering an organism’s ability to survive in the wild. While many factors affect establishment success, traits that increase propagule pressure and success following introduction, such as earlier age at maturity and higher reproductive output, are characteristic of a population that can establish based on life history traits alone. Using a popular ornamental fish that has undergone decades of domestication, the Guppy Poecilia reticulata, we analyzed differences between domesticated and wild populations in life history traits that may affect invasiveness. Using eight unique populations of guppies (four wild and four domesticated), reproductive output and age and growth were assessed. While there was not a clear influence of domestication across all life history traits, domestication significantly affected age at maturity, number of offspring, and growth rate of offspring. The feeder Guppy population, which is most similar in morphology to the wild populations, was more similar in life history traits to the wild populations than to the domesticated populations. The two fancy Guppy populations (directly selected for large fins and bright coloration) had lower reproductive output and slower growth, thus did not exhibit life history traits that are hypothesized to increase population success if introduced. This indicates that the degree of domestication may affect the invasiveness of introduced Guppy populations with the wild populations having the highest potential invasiveness. Future research will analyze the effects of other traits that could alter survival, such as behavior and recruitment in the presence of a native predator, in order to determine the potential success of these populations in a Florida environment. |
Presentation Link | fisheries.org |