Abstract
Along the California coast there are three intertidal species of the genus Gibbonsia (G. elegans, G. metzi, G. montereyensis). These species have distinct but overlapping distributions. Collections were made seasonally from three areas. Each collection was divided into two groups — a critical thermal maximum and minimum were determined for one group and the other group was tested after a 3 week acclimation period. The three species showed genetically different adaptation abilities and these were correlated with species differences in latitudinal distributions. The species that experiences the widest seasonal temperature range proved capable of anticipatory adjustment to temperature while the two experiencing small seasonal changes showed only reactive adjustments. the species with the widest distribution showed the greatest ability to adapt to temperature extremes. After 1 week acclimation all three species demonstrated different mechanisms for heat and cold adaptation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Barlow, G.: Intra- and interspecific differences in the rate of oxygen consumption in gobiid fishes of the genus Gillichthys. Biol. Bull. mar. biol. Lab., Woods Hole 121, 209–229 (1961)
Battstrom, B.H.: Thermal acclimation in Australian amphibians. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 35, 69–103 (1970)
Brett, J.: Some principles in the thermal requirements of fishes. Q. Rev. Biol. 31, 75–85 (1956)
Ekman, S.: Zoogeography of the sea, 417 pp. London: Sedgwick & Jackson 1953
Fry, F.E.J.: The effect of environmental factors on the physiology of fish. In: Fish physiology, pp 1–98. Ed. by W. Hoar and D. Randall. London: Academic Press 1971
Gibson, R.: The use of the anesthetic quinaldine in fish ecology. J. Anim. Ecol. 36, 295–301 (1967)
Graham, J.B.: Temperature sensitivity of two species of intertidal fishes. Copeia 1970, 49–56 (1970)
Hubbs, C.: A contribution to the classification of the blennioid fishes of the family Clinidae, with a partial revision of the Eastern Pacific forms. Stanford ichthyol. Bull. 4, 41–165 (1952)
Hubbs, C.L.: Changes in the fish fauna of western North America as correlated with changes in ocean temperature. J. mar. Res. 7, 459–482 (1948)
Lowe, C.H. and V.J. Vance: Acclimation of the critical thermal maximum of the reptile Urosaurus ornatus. Science, N.Y. 122, 72–73 (1955)
Morris, R.W.: Distribution and temperature sensitivity of some Eastern Pacific cottid fishes. Physiol. Zoöl. 34, 217–232 (1961)
Nakamura, R.: Temperature and the vertical distribution of two tidepool fishes (Oligocottus maculosus, O. snyderi). Copeia 1976, 145–152 (1976)
Norris, K.S.: The functions of temperature in the ecology of the percoid fish Girella nigricans (Ayres). Ecol. Monogr. 33, 23–62 (1963)
Schwartzlose, R.A.: Surface water temperatures at shore stations. United States west coast and Baja California. University of California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography 1957 (SIO Ref. 57-28, ii-63)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography: Data report — surface water temperatures at shore stations, United States west coast, 1972. University of California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography 1973. (SIO Ref. 73-15, 1–70)
Springer, V.G.: The western South Atlantic clinid fish Ribeiroclinus eigenmanni, with discussion of the intra-relationships and zoogeography of Clinidae. Copeia 1970, 430–437 (1970)
Steel, R. and J. Torrie: Principles and procedures of statistics with special references to the biological sciences, 481 pp. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. 1960
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J.S. Pearse, Santa Cruz
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davis, B.J. Distribution and temperature adaptation in the teleost fish genus Gibbonsia . Mar. Biol. 42, 315–320 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402193
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402193