Age structure of annual Nothobranchius fishes in Mozambique: is there a hatching synchrony?

0358428 - ÚBO 2012 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Polačik, Matej - Donner, M. T. - Reichard, Martin
Age structure of annual Nothobranchius fishes in Mozambique: is there a hatching synchrony?
Journal of Fish Biology. Roč. 78, č. 3 (2011), s. 796-809. ISSN 0022-1112. E-ISSN 1095-8649
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA206/09/0815
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : age validation * ecology * killifishes * south-east Africa * temporary pools
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 1.685, year: 2011

In this study, the age structures of populations of African annual Nothobranchius fishes are examined for the first time. Daily increments in sagittal otoliths of N. furzeri, N. kadleci, N. orthonotus and N. rachovii were used for age determination. Four hypotheses were tested: 1) timing of hatching is consistent with the calendar onset of the rainy season, 2) hatching is synchronized within a population in a pool, 3) there is a difference in hatching date between geographical regions differing in mean total annual precipitation, and 4) sympatric Nothobranchius species hatch at the same time. The results show that daily increment analysis represents an applicable method for age determination in Nothobranchius spp. Timing of hatching was not consistent with the calendar onset of the rainy season. Hatching dates were relatively uniform in some populations, whilst there was considerable variability in others.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0196480