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Differential predation alters pigmentation in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus).

Authors :
Gygax M
Rentsch AK
Rudman SM
Rennison DJ
Source :
Journal of evolutionary biology [J Evol Biol] 2018 Oct; Vol. 31 (10), pp. 1589-1598. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Aug 22.
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

Animal pigmentation plays a key role in many biological interactions, including courtship and predator avoidance. Sympatric benthic and limnetic ecotypes of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) exhibit divergent pigment patterns. To test whether differential predation by cutthroat trout contributes to the differences in pigmentation seen between the ecotypes, we used a within-generation selection experiment on F <subscript>2</subscript> benthic-limnetic hybrids. After 10 months of differential selection, we compared the pigmentation of fish under trout predation to control fish not exposed to trout predation. We found that stickleback exhibited more lateral barring in ponds with trout predation. Ponds with trout were also less turbid, and a greater degree of barring was negatively correlated with the magnitude of turbidity across pond replicates. A more benthic diet, a proxy for habitat use, was also correlated with greater lateral barring and green dorsal pigmentation. These patterns suggest that differential exposure to cutthroat trout predation may explain the divergence in body pigmentation between benthic and limnetic ecotypes.<br /> (© 2018 European Society For Evolutionary Biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2018 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1420-9101
Volume :
31
Issue :
10
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of evolutionary biology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
30055069
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.13354