Evolutionary interplay between ecology, morphology and reproductive behavior in threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus

Synopsis

Throughout its range, freshwater populations in the Gasterosteus aculeatus species complex display remarkable differentiation of morphology and behavior, much of which reflects differences in ecological conditions among habitats. We first describe the ecological conditions that have led to morphological and behavioral divergence in two common lake types in British Columbia, Canada. Deep, oligotrophic lakes have favored the evolution of slender fish well adapted for feeding on plankton (limnetic, sensu McPhail 1984), whereas shallow, more eutrophic lakes with extensive littoral zones favor fish that are deeper-bodied and well adapted for feeding on benthic invertebrates. The latter forage in large groups that attack nests guarded by males and cannibalize the young within. Courtship in these lakes is relatively inconspicuous, a feature that apparently enhances nest survivorship. In limnetic populations, this form of cannibalism is usually absent and courtship is conspicuous. Because benthic populations tend to have larger bodies and hence, larger gapes than do limnetic fish we suggest that cannibalism may be facilitated by large body size or a correlated trait. We test this by comparing the morphology of populations exhibiting both group cannibalism and a second kind of cannibalism in which solitary females court males, gain access to nests as a consequence, and then cannibalize eggs without spawning. Our results suggest that differences in body size cannot explain variation among populations in cannibalistic tendencies but that body size may affect the effectiveness of cannibalism by females within populations.