Reproduction & Development

Question 1

Define iteroparous

Answer 1

Having multiple reproductive cycles over the duration of a lifetime.

Question 2

Define semelparous

Answer 2

Having one reproductive cycle over the duration of a lifetime.

Question 3

Define promiscuous

Answer 3

Mates with multiple partners indiscriminately

Question 4

Define polygamous

Answer 4

One individual mates with several of the opposite sex

Question 5

Define polygyny

Answer 5

One male with more than one female

Question 6

Define polyandry

Answer 6

One female with more than one male

Question 7

Define monogamous

Answer 7

A pair of one male and one female, usual for a single breeding season

Question 8

Define gonochoristic

Answer 8

Separate fixed sexes

Question 9

Define simultaneous hemeraphrodite

Answer 9

The ability to trade roles between male and female during spawning

Question 10

Define sequential hermaphrodite

Answer 10

Changes in sex over time

Question 11

Define protogyny

Answer 11

Female to male over time

Question 12

Define protangry

Answer 12

Male to female over time

Question 13

Define bi-directional sex change

Answer 13

The ability to change sex in either direction, possibly multiple times

Question 14

Define parthenogenesis

Answer 14

Asexual reproduction where a female doesn’t need sperm to reproduce

Question 15

Define sexual dimorphism

Answer 15

Differences in form between sexes

Question 16

What is the range of spawning sites and degree of nest guarding shown by fishes? (four examples)

Answer 16

Non-guarders: Fish may lave eggs to grow by themselves with open substrate, often these are pelagic and benthic fish.

Brood hiders: Fish that may not guard their eggs but hide them via nests or burying.

Guarders: Fish that build a nest and is protected, usually by males.

Bearers: Eggs are kept with a parent fish until they are hatched. This could be external with a mouth or pouch. This could also be internal within an oviduct.

Question 17

What is the extent of parental care?

Answer 17

Parental care includes guarding eggs, carrying young during gestation, and provisioning. Care is done by males 80% of the time.

Question 18

Define and give an example of an ontogenetic niche shift.

Answer 18

An ecological event where an organism changes its diet or habitat. This could be because of the introduction of another organism into the habitat or naturally occurs during growth. For example, most herbivorous fish start off as carnivorous, become omnivores while a juvenile, and the adult form is herbivorous.

Question 19

What are some alternative strategies used by non-dominate males for spawning?

Answer 19

Sneaker males live on the edge of a dominate male’s territory.

Female mimic lives within a male’s territory.

Parental male has a territory, protects eggs, builds nests, and is bigger.

Polychromatism

Question 20

Describe the life cycle stages of an Atlantic Salmon.

Answer 20

Eggs are deposited in riverbed gravels. Alevins hatch and feed from the remaining yolk and than become fry who feed on microscopic life. Parr have matured and live in the river for 1 to 6 years depending on food and water temperature. The smolt begins to prepare for saltwater living and swims with the current. The adult salmon live in the ocean and after 1 to 3 years become Redd and return to their original river to spawn via smell.

Question 21

What is an evolutionarily stable strategy?

Answer 21

A stable distribution of multiple strategies within a species favored by natural selection.

Question 22

What are to spawning strategies used by marine fish to assure larvae reach appropriate feeding grounds?

Answer 22

Larval transport: in order to not have competition with their own young, larvae may passively travel via currents far from their birth site to feed. Many are translucent to avoid predation and have yolk sacs.

Ontogenetic niche shift: allows the fish to live together w/competition between ages
1) Direct w/ no larva form
2) Indirect w/ distinct larvae and metamorphosis