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Life history traits of the sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus in a dammed tributary of the middle Yangtze River, China

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Abstract

In this study, we collected 709 specimens of the sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus from the Yuanjiang River at monthly intervals between May 2017 and January 2019. An increment was formed annually in the lapillar otoliths, with the formation of annuli occurring between May and August, and peaking in June. Fish spawned from April to October, with a peak period between May and June. The radius of the first annulus varied apparently among individuals, reflecting differences in the duration of the growth period prior to annulus formation owing to extended spawning seasons. Three types of first annulus observed could reflect differences in the periods when the fish were born. The age of sampled fish ranged from 0 to 4 years, among which 1- and 2-year age classes predominated. The mean standard length (SL) at age and growth rate of this population did not differ significantly from those of other native populations. Analysis of life history traits indicated no obvious correlation with either latitude or habitat, whereas SL distribution and age composition were found to vary along a latitudinal gradient. Furthermore, mean SL at age and growth rate showed differences between native and invasive populations. Relatively stable life history traits of this species may explain its dominant status in diverse ecosystems, with plasticity in terms of body size and growth contributing to its successful invasion of different habitats.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China by the Young People program grant number 32002394 and the Education Department of Hunan Province by the Outstanding Youth Fund program grant number 20B403, and partially supported by the Education Department of Hunan Province by General program grant number 19C1270.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Health Aquaculture and Product Processing in Dongting Lake Area of Hunan Province, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Health Production of Fisheries in Hunan Province, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hunan University of Arts and Science, Changde, 415000, China

    Yanfei Huang, Liangguo Liu, Chunying Yang, Wanjuan Yang, Yun Zhou & Meiqi Wu

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  1. Yanfei Huang
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Huang, Y., Liu, L., Yang, C. et al. Life history traits of the sharpbelly Hemiculter leucisculus in a dammed tributary of the middle Yangtze River, China. Fish Sci 88, 751–765 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-022-01641-x

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