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Assessing the ecological relevance of swimming performance traits: a case study of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

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Abstract

A variety of fish species show habitat-related variation in traits associated with swimming performance and foraging behavior. This commonly manifests as a distinction between open water and shallow water littoral ecotypes. In bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), open water fish exhibit greater energy economy and speed during sustained locomotion than those from the littoral, whereas littoral fish were more maneuverable than their open water counterparts. These distinctions are associated with variation in diet and foraging behavior and may represent a resource polyphenism that enhances fitness through more effective exploitation of particular habitat types. A lack of field data means that polyphenisms have not been placed in context with swimming behavior in the field. We have used 3D videography to quantify bluegill field swimming performance in open water and littoral habitats. This revealed patterns of performance variation that parallel the trait variation previously established in the laboratory. Open water fish utilized faster average swimming speeds than inshore fish, while indicators of nonlinearity and unsteadiness were greater in the littoral fish. There are, however, differences in propulsive behavior between the field and laboratory. Pectoral-fin-powered, median-paired fin swimming is rarely employed by open water fish. Field body-caudal fin swimming involves short sequences of propulsive tail beats interspersed with gliding, rather than the repeated propulsive cycles employed under steady-state conditions. This suggests a need to re-evaluate the applicability of steady-state performance traits to behavior and fitness in the field and highlights the general importance of obtaining field performance data.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Selina Shin for her role in the initial development of the field camera rig. The work was supported by NSF 1354274 to DJE and a Wellesley College faculty research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA, 02481, USA

    David J. Ellerby, Caroline G. Berlin, Kelsey J. Cathcart, Mary Kate Dornon, Asher Feldman & Jessica K. Gee

  2. The Department of Biology, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St, Charleston, SC, 29409, USA

    Clinton J. Moran

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  1. David J. Ellerby
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  2. Caroline G. Berlin
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  3. Kelsey J. Cathcart
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  4. Mary Kate Dornon
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  5. Asher Feldman
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  6. Jessica K. Gee
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  7. Clinton J. Moran
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Contributions

CGB and KJC carried out the video analyses. AF and CJM collected calibration data and developed calibration protocols. CGB, MKD, JKG, MKD, CJM and DJE carried out the field data collection. DJE and CJM led the writing of the manuscript. All authors contributed critically to the study design and drafts and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to David J. Ellerby.

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Ellerby, D.J., Berlin, C.G., Cathcart, K.J. et al. Assessing the ecological relevance of swimming performance traits: a case study of bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus). Aquat Ecol 52, 311–322 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-018-9665-4

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