Eco-evolution in size-structured ecosystems: simulation case study of rapid morphological changes in alewife.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Over the last 300 years, interactions between alewives and zooplankton communities in several lakes in the U.S. have caused the alewives' morphology to transition rapidly from anadromous to landlocked. Lakes with landlocked alewives contain smaller-bodied zooplankton than those without alewives. Landlocked adult alewives display smaller body sizes, narrower gapes, smaller inter-gill-raker spacings, reach maturity at an earlier age, and are less fecund than anadromous alewives. Additionally, landlocked alewives consume pelagic prey exclusively throughout their lives whereas anadromous alewives make an ontogenetic transition from pelagic to littoral prey. These rapid, well-documented changes in the alewives' morphology provide important insights into the morphological evol

SUBMITTER: Kang JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5327535 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature