Abstract
The eastern mosquitofish is common throughout the United States, and have been an interest to ecologists due to both the positive and negative impacts they have on the environments they live in. Their short lifespan and the variation of their life history characteristics in different environments also make them an ideal organism for studies pertaining to the relationship of life history to habitat. The objective of this experiment was to collect a sample of Eastern mosquitofish and perform a vertical life history analysis. Fish were captured and measured around Hennington pond at FIU, and data was compiled into a vertical life history table. This table revealed that the fish have relatively short life times and high reproduction rate, …show more content…
This is due to their rapid breeding, a life span of about one year, adaptation to multiple regions, and a wide variety of life-history characteristics that vary in response to their habitat (Patimar et al, 2011). Furthermore, their ability to switch between food sources during stress, combined with the life history response of these organisms to the environment, suggests a high phenotypic plasticity (Weeks and Meffe, 1996). The objective of this experiment was to collect a sample of 350 eastern Mosquitofish in order to perform a vertical life history analysis of the population.
Methods
We had gathered nets, rulers, and notebooks and divided into small groups to span along Hennington pond near the entrance of FIU. After some experimenting with technique, we had found that using a downward sweeping motion near the grasses of the lake was the most effective way of catching the mosquitofish. When these fish were caught, they were held gently and quickly measured in millimeters with a small ruler, then thrown back into the water. Data from each group was compiled onto an excel sheet, and a vertical life history table was constructed.
Age (in days) sample per age class # per age class Survival rate Fecundity offspring per individual Age weighted …show more content…
Life expectancy did not go much further than 240 days, and the most common age group for these individuals was around 90 days. Furthermore, the most common age group for these fish was around 90 days old. These fish also have a high yield of offspring per individual at around 14 individuals when sexual maturity is reached.
Discussion
Although we were not successful in attaining our sample goal of 350 Eastern Mosquitofish, the data presented in this life history table revealed that the mosquito fish population in Hennington pond has a life expectancy under a year and a high yield of offspring per individual. The use of a vertical life history table in this experiment was decided based on both the observation of this population in a single point in time, and the time saved in performing this type of observation as opposed to what is needed for a horizontal life history, which would have required a vast amount of time in order to observe the full life cycle of a population of these fish. Life history tables are necessary in population ecology in order to understand the survivorship and reproductive habits of a population, as well as understand the impact the environment might have on the survivability of organisms over
The eastern mosquitofish is common throughout the United States, and have been an interest to ecologists due to both the positive and negative impacts they have on the environments they live in. Their short lifespan and the variation of their life history characteristics in different environments also make them an ideal organism for studies pertaining to the relationship of life history to habitat. The objective of this experiment was to collect a sample of Eastern mosquitofish and perform a vertical life history analysis. Fish were captured and measured around Hennington pond at FIU, and data was compiled into a vertical life history table. This table revealed that the fish have relatively short life times and high reproduction rate, …show more content…
This is due to their rapid breeding, a life span of about one year, adaptation to multiple regions, and a wide variety of life-history characteristics that vary in response to their habitat (Patimar et al, 2011). Furthermore, their ability to switch between food sources during stress, combined with the life history response of these organisms to the environment, suggests a high phenotypic plasticity (Weeks and Meffe, 1996). The objective of this experiment was to collect a sample of 350 eastern Mosquitofish in order to perform a vertical life history analysis of the population.
Methods
We had gathered nets, rulers, and notebooks and divided into small groups to span along Hennington pond near the entrance of FIU. After some experimenting with technique, we had found that using a downward sweeping motion near the grasses of the lake was the most effective way of catching the mosquitofish. When these fish were caught, they were held gently and quickly measured in millimeters with a small ruler, then thrown back into the water. Data from each group was compiled onto an excel sheet, and a vertical life history table was constructed.
Age (in days) sample per age class # per age class Survival rate Fecundity offspring per individual Age weighted …show more content…
Life expectancy did not go much further than 240 days, and the most common age group for these individuals was around 90 days. Furthermore, the most common age group for these fish was around 90 days old. These fish also have a high yield of offspring per individual at around 14 individuals when sexual maturity is reached.
Discussion
Although we were not successful in attaining our sample goal of 350 Eastern Mosquitofish, the data presented in this life history table revealed that the mosquito fish population in Hennington pond has a life expectancy under a year and a high yield of offspring per individual. The use of a vertical life history table in this experiment was decided based on both the observation of this population in a single point in time, and the time saved in performing this type of observation as opposed to what is needed for a horizontal life history, which would have required a vast amount of time in order to observe the full life cycle of a population of these fish. Life history tables are necessary in population ecology in order to understand the survivorship and reproductive habits of a population, as well as understand the impact the environment might have on the survivability of organisms over