Synopsis
Nesting success in populations of the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus (leiurus form), that permanently inhabit the freshwater area with springs recorded 302 nests in the spring areas and 147 in the main stream of the Yamayoke River, Gifu Prefecture in Central Japan. The three-spined sticklebacks showed temporal variation in nesting success within sites together with spatial variation between sites. The rate of nesting success averaged 27.8%. There was no apparent seasonal trend in nesting success. Nest density varied over time and between sites but was not associated with variation in nesting success. Nesting losses were partly caused by rapid currents after rain or lack of water during the dry period. Conspecific and heterospecific disturbances also caused some losses. Heterospecific pressure was greater in the main stream than in spring areas. Some males spontaneously abandoned their nests and renested even without external impacts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References cited
Assem, J. van den. 1967. Territory in the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus L., an experimental study in intra-specific competition. Behaviour suppl. 16: 1–164.
Black, R. 1971. Hatching success in the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in relation to changes in behaviour during the parental phase. Anim. Behav. 19: 532–541.
Clutton-Brock, T.H. (ed.) 1988. Reproductive success. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 538 pp.
FitzGerald, G.J. 1983. The reproductive ecology and behaviour of three sympatric sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae) in a saltmarsh. Biol. Behav. 8: 67–79.
Kynard, B.E. 1978. Breeding behaviour of a lacustrine population of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). Behaviour 67: 178–207.
Mori, S. 1985. Reproductive behaviour of the landlocked threespined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus microcephalus, in Japan. I. The year-long prolongation of the breeding period in waterbodies with springs. Behaviour 93: 21–35.
Mori, S. 1987. Geographical variation in freshwater populations of the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, in Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 34: 33–46.
Mori, S. 1988. The upright nesting behaviours on a vertical shorewall in the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus (leiurus form). J. Ethol. 6: 59–62.
Mori, S. 1993. The breeding system of the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus (forma leiurus), with reference to temporal and spatial patterns of nesting activities. Behaviour 126: 97–124.
Mori, S. 1994. Nest site choice by the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus (forma leiurus) in spring-fed waters. J. Fish Biol. 45: 279–289.
Sargent, R.C. 1982. Territory quality, male quality, courtship intrusions, and female nest-choice in the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Anim. Behav. 30: 364–374.
Sargent, R.C. & J.B. Gebler. 1980. Effects of nest site concealment on hatching success, reproductive success, and paternal behavior of the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 7: 137–142.
Wootton, R.J. 1971. A note on the nest-raiding behaviour of male sticklebacks. Can. J. Zool. 49: 960–962.
Wootton, R.J. 1972. The behaviour of the male three-spined stickleback in a natural situation: a quantitative description. Behaviour 41: 232–241.
Wootton, R.J. 1976. The biology of the sticklebacks. Academic Press, London. 387 pp.
Wootton, R.J. 1984. A functional biology of sticklebacks. Croom Helm, London. 265 pp.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mori, S. Spatial and temporal variations in nesting success and the causes of nest losses of the freshwater three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus . Environ Biol Fish 43, 323–328 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005865
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005865