Synopsis
Spawning behaviour, fertilization success and reproductive ecology of stream-resident and lake-run male Miyabe charr, Salvelinus malma miyabei, were studied under natural and artificial conditions. In Shikaribetsu Lake, Japan, the ratio of the two types of males is approximately 1:1, estimated by weir data. The majority of stream-resident males mature sexually at 2+ years of age, while the lake-run males begin to mature at 4+. In contrast to the large-bodied lake-run males, which paired with females, the smaller stream-resident males attempted to fertilize eggs by ‘streaking’ into the nest. We demonstrated through electrophoretic techniques that stream-resident males were able to fertilize eggs by streaking. Under artificial conditions, the estimated maximum proportion of eggs fertilized by a single stream-resident male was about 16.8. The evolutionary stability of the charr's dual mating system may be explained by Gross's theory for alternative life-history evolution, although further testing is necessary.
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Maekawa, K., Onozato, H. Reproductive tactics and fertilization success of mature male Miyabe charr, Salvelinus malma miyabei . Environ Biol Fish 15, 119–129 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005427
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005427