Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton

The hypothesis that contrasting hydrology induces divergent intraspecific phenotypic plastic responses in non-migratory freshwater fish was investigated. Morphologies of wetland and stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> from South Island, New Zealand, at different stages of ontogeny, were e...

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Main Authors: Nicholas R. Dunn, Leanne K. O’Brien, Gerard P. Closs
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/220
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author Nicholas R. Dunn
Leanne K. O’Brien
Gerard P. Closs
author_facet Nicholas R. Dunn
Leanne K. O’Brien
Gerard P. Closs
author_sort Nicholas R. Dunn
collection DOAJ
description The hypothesis that contrasting hydrology induces divergent intraspecific phenotypic plastic responses in non-migratory freshwater fish was investigated. Morphologies of wetland and stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> from South Island, New Zealand, at different stages of ontogeny, were examined. Phenotypic responses were tested for in a 2 × 2 factorial laboratory based controlled reciprocal transplant experiment with flow (current or no current) and source habitat (wetland or stream), as treatments. There was a shift in the overall head morphology of wetland current treatment <i>G. gollumoides</i> away from the wetland no current treatment, and toward the stream current treatment, demonstrating convergence in head morphology in the presence of flow of wetland and stream sourced captive <i>G. gollumoides</i>. Morphologies of captive reared <i>G. gollumoides</i> were also compared to developmental trajectories of morphological characters during the ontogeny of field reared first year, and adult conspecifics. In combination, experimental and field results support the hypothesis, finding habitat hydrology to be the potential mechanism inducing and maintaining intraspecific morphological divergence in <i>G. gollumoides</i>. Recognition of this mechanism inducing morphological divergence between populations also aids the taxonomic description of long genetically recognised lineages of co-members of the <i>Galaxias vulgaris</i> species complex.
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spelling doaj.art-7be7f2976cfa4c71b2af8a98e454a66f2023-11-20T02:32:20ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182020-06-0112622010.3390/d12060220Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and ChaddertonNicholas R. Dunn0Leanne K. O’Brien1Gerard P. Closs2Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandIchthyo-niche, PO Box 61, Dunsandel 7657, New ZealandDepartment of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandThe hypothesis that contrasting hydrology induces divergent intraspecific phenotypic plastic responses in non-migratory freshwater fish was investigated. Morphologies of wetland and stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> from South Island, New Zealand, at different stages of ontogeny, were examined. Phenotypic responses were tested for in a 2 × 2 factorial laboratory based controlled reciprocal transplant experiment with flow (current or no current) and source habitat (wetland or stream), as treatments. There was a shift in the overall head morphology of wetland current treatment <i>G. gollumoides</i> away from the wetland no current treatment, and toward the stream current treatment, demonstrating convergence in head morphology in the presence of flow of wetland and stream sourced captive <i>G. gollumoides</i>. Morphologies of captive reared <i>G. gollumoides</i> were also compared to developmental trajectories of morphological characters during the ontogeny of field reared first year, and adult conspecifics. In combination, experimental and field results support the hypothesis, finding habitat hydrology to be the potential mechanism inducing and maintaining intraspecific morphological divergence in <i>G. gollumoides</i>. Recognition of this mechanism inducing morphological divergence between populations also aids the taxonomic description of long genetically recognised lineages of co-members of the <i>Galaxias vulgaris</i> species complex.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/220<i>Galaxias gollumoides</i>morphologyhydrological environmentphenotypic plasticity
spellingShingle Nicholas R. Dunn
Leanne K. O’Brien
Gerard P. Closs
Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton
Diversity
<i>Galaxias gollumoides</i>
morphology
hydrological environment
phenotypic plasticity
title Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton
title_full Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton
title_fullStr Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton
title_full_unstemmed Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton
title_short Phenotypically Induced Intraspecific Variation in the Morphological Development of Wetland and Stream <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i> McDowall and Chadderton
title_sort phenotypically induced intraspecific variation in the morphological development of wetland and stream i galaxias gollumoides i mcdowall and chadderton
topic <i>Galaxias gollumoides</i>
morphology
hydrological environment
phenotypic plasticity
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/6/220
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AT gerardpcloss phenotypicallyinducedintraspecificvariationinthemorphologicaldevelopmentofwetlandandstreamigalaxiasgollumoidesimcdowallandchadderton