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Morphological change and phenotypic plasticity in native and non-native pumpkinseed sunfish in response to competition

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Abstract

Non-indigenous species are oftentimes exposed to ecosystems with unfamiliar species, and organisms that exhibit a high degree of phenotypic plasticity may be better able to contend with the novel competitors that they may encounter during range expansion. In this study, differences in morphological plasticity were investigated using young-of-year pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) from native North American and non-native European populations. Two Canadian populations, isolated from bluegill sunfish (L. macrochirus) since the last glaciation, and two Spanish populations, isolated from bluegill since their introduction in Europe, were reared in a common environment using artificial enclosures. Fish were subjected to allopatric (without bluegill) or sympatric (with bluegill) conditions, and differences in plasticity were tested through a MANOVA of discriminant function scores. All pumpkinseed populations exhibited dietary shifts towards more benthivorous prey when held with bluegill. Differences between North American and European populations were observed in body dimensions, gill raker length and pelvic fin position. Sympatric treatments induced an increase in body width and a decrease in caudal peduncle length in native fish; non-native fish exhibited longer caudal peduncle lengths when held in sympatry with bluegill. Overall, phenotypic plasticity influenced morphological divergence less than genetic factors, regardless of population. Contrary to predictions, pumpkinseeds from Europe exhibited lower levels of phenotypic plasticity than Canadian populations, suggesting that European pumpkinseeds are more canalized than their North American counterparts.

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Acknowledgments

We thank C. Corkery and his family for generously providing access to their pond, and D. Algera, J. Gobin, A. Istead, and L. Masson for their field assistance. We also thank three anonymous reviewers for providing constructive comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Funding was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to MGF and by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities in the form of Ontario Graduate Scholarships to SY and ACR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, Canada, K9J 7B8

    Stan Yavno & Anna C. Rooke

  2. Environmental and Resources Studies Program and Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, K9J 7B8

    Michael G. Fox

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  1. Stan Yavno
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  2. Anna C. Rooke
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  3. Michael G. Fox
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Correspondence to Stan Yavno.

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Communicated by: Sven Thatje

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Yavno, S., Rooke, A.C. & Fox, M.G. Morphological change and phenotypic plasticity in native and non-native pumpkinseed sunfish in response to competition. Naturwissenschaften 101, 479–492 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1177-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-014-1177-z

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