Large-scale variation in life history traits of the widespread diadromous fish, Galaxias maculatus, reflects geographic differences in local environmental conditions
Nicole C. Barbee A F , Robin Hale A B C , John Morrongiello A D , Andy Hicks A E , David Semmens A , Barbara J. Downes B and Stephen E. Swearer A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B Department of Resource Management and Geography, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Present address: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.
D Present address: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tas. 7001, Australia.
E Present address: Department of Conservation, Southland Conservancy Office, Invercargill 9810, New Zealand.
F Corresponding author. Email: nbarbee@unimelb.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 62(7) 790-800 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF10284
Submitted: 12 November 2010 Accepted: 10 March 2011 Published: 25 July 2011
Abstract
Applying uniform population models and management strategies to widespread species can be ineffective if populations exhibit variable life histories in response to local conditions. Galaxias maculatus, one of the world’s most widely distributed fish species, occurs in a broad range of habitats and is highly adaptable, making it an ideal species for examining variation in life history traits across large geographic scales. Here, we examine the spawning biology and early life history of diadromous G. maculatus in coastal rivers in Victoria, Australia, and compare them to other populations throughout its range. We predicted that traits associated with these critical life stages, especially those that respond to environmental conditions that vary geographically, such as seasonal cues and temperature, are likely to vary across large spatial scales. We found that spawning occurs later in Victoria than in New Zealand (NZ) and South America, but migration back to rivers occurs at the same time in Victoria and NZ, but not South America. G. maculatus returning to rivers are also smaller and younger in Victoria than those in NZ. Other traits, like some attributes of spawning schools and spawning habitats, did not vary across large scales. Researchers and managers should be cautious when making broad assumptions about the biology of widely distributed species.
Additional keywords: larval growth rate, otolith, pelagic larval duration, reproductive investment, settlement age, settlement size, size at maturity, sex ratio, south-eastern Australia, whitebait.
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