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Reproductive traits in the southernmost landlocked population of the fish Galaxias maculatus

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Abstract

This work aimed to study the reproductive traits of the southernmost landlocked population of Galaxias maculatus living under extreme environmental conditions (54.5° S). Individuals were measured, weighed, sexed, and dissected. The reproductive cycle was analyzed based on the monthly variation of the gonadosomatic indices (GSIs) and the monthly proportion of gonadal stages (established through histology). Fecundity was evaluated by counting macroscopically hydrated oocytes. The reproductive season of G. maculatus in the population assessed extended from March through November (the more protracted for the species described so far). The GSI was higher in males than females, with maximum individual values occurring at the final maturation stage. The simultaneous presence of postovulatory follicles and developing oocytes indicates iteroparity. Our results suggest lower instantaneous investment in reproduction at the individual level but a more prolonged throughout the year than other populations of the species, even under more extreme winter conditions. Considering the increased reproduction costs under extreme habitats and based on our findings, we suggest how populations from the same geographic area can deploy different strategies to cope with energy trade-offs. These results highlight the importance of integrated physiological and ecological approaches to elucidate the basis for variation in life-history traits.

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Data are available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Sonia Rimbau, Mariela Victorio, Maximiliano Rubel, Katie Johnson, Eugenia Barrantes, and María Florencia Ferreira for their invaluable collaboration with field and laboratory work; and Dra. Myriam Zawoznik for the revision of the language. We thank the associate editor and two anonymous reviewers whose suggestions and comments helped to improve the quality and clarity of the manuscript. This research was supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP2021-2023 Nº2934, P-UE 2016), Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (PICT2017 Nº3845, PICT2021 Nº211), Administración de Parques Nacionales (032CPA), and Fundación Científica Felipe Fiorellino.

Funding

This research was supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (PIP2021-2023 Nº2934, P-UE 2016), Agencia Nacional de Promoción de la Investigación, el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (PICT2017 Nº3845, PICT2021 Nº211), Administración de Parques Nacionales (032CPA), and Fundación Científica Felipe Fiorellino.

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  1. Claudia Clementina Boy and Javier Hernán Rojo are joint first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Ecología, Fisiología y Evolución de Organismos Acuáticos (LEFyE). Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC)-CONICET, Ushuaia, Argentina

    Claudia Clementina Boy, Javier Hernán Rojo, Cintia Pamela Fraysse & Daniel Ramón Aureliano

  2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Aylen Odetto

  3. Laboratorio de Invertebrados Marinos, CCNA, Universidad Maimónides-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Analía Fernanda Pérez

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  1. Claudia Clementina Boy
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Contributions

CCB, JHR, and AFP contributed to conceptualization; CCB, JHR, CPF, DRA, and AFP contributed to developing methods; CCB, JHR, CPF, AO, DRA, and AFP contributed to conducting the research; CCB, JHR, CPF, and AFP contributed to data analysis and interpretation; CCB, JHR, and CPF contributed to preparation of figures and tables; and CCB, JHR, CPF, and AFP contributed to writing.

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Correspondence to Javier Hernán Rojo.

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Specimens were collected following international and local guidelines of the Comité Institucional de Bioética, Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CIB-CADIC).

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Boy, C.C., Rojo, J.H., Fraysse, C.P. et al. Reproductive traits in the southernmost landlocked population of the fish Galaxias maculatus. Hydrobiologia 851, 573–584 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-023-05345-w

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