Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Female masculinization and reproductive life history in the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we explored the relationship between female masculinization and various morphological and reproductive parameters of male and female western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), including body size, anal fin length, testes mass and female fecundity. We detected high levels of female masculinization in the Brazos and Little Brazos Rivers (Falls County, Texas) in March 2008, but not 2009. In both populations, masculinized females were smaller, possessed shorter anal fins, and had significantly lower total fecundity (collective number of eggs and embryos) compared to non-masculinized females. In addition, 2008 non-masculinized females were smaller and less fecund than 2009 non-masculinized females in both populations. Moreover, 2008 males were smaller, had shorter gonopodia, and smaller testes than 2009 males. Our results support the hypothesis that female masculinization can have a strong influence on reproductive life history and population dynamics of livebearing fishes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angus RA, McNatt HB, Howell WM, Peoples SD (2001) Gonopodium development in normal male and 11-ketotestosterone-treated female mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis): a quantitative study using computer image analysis. Gen Compar Endocrin 123:222–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baatrup E, Junge M (2001) Antiandrogenic pesticides disrupt sexual characteristics in the adult male guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Environ Health Persp 109:1063–1070

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bortone SA, Cody RP (1999) Morphological masculinization in Poeciliid females from a paper mill effluent receiving tributary of the St. Johns River, Florida, USA. Bull Envir Contam Toxic 1999:150–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bortone SA, Davis WP (1994) Fish intersexuality as indicator of environmental stress. Bioscience 44:165–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chakka KB, Munster CL (1997) Atrazine and nitrate transport to the Brazos River floodplain aquifer. Trans ASAE 40(3):615–621

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deaton R (2008) Factors influencing male mating behavior in a coercive mating system. J Fish Biol 72(7):1607–1615

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denton TE, Howell WM, Allison JJ, McCollum J, Marks B (1985) Masculinization of female mosquitofish by exposure to plan sterols and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Bull Envir Contam Toxic 35:627–632

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drysdale DT, Bortone SA (1989) Laboratory induction of intersexuality in the mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, using paper mill effluent. Bull Envir Contam Toxic 43:611–617

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis RJ, van den Heuvel MR, Bandelj E, Smith MA, McCarthy LH, Stuthridge TR, Dietrich DR (2003) In vivo and in vitro assessment of the androgenic potential of a pulp and paper mill effluent. Environ Toxic Chem 22:1448–1456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill GE (1995) Ornamental traits as indicators of environmental health. Biosci 45:25–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell WM, Denton TE (1989) Gonopodial morphogenesis in female mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis affinis, masculinized by exposure to degradation products from plant sterols. Envir Biol Fishes 24:43–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell WM, Black DA, Bortone SA (1980) Abnormal expression of secondary sex characteristics in a population of mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis holbrooki: evidence for environmentally induced masculinization. Copeia 1980:676–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krotzer MJ (1990) The effects of induced masculinization on reproductive and aggressive behaviors of the female mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis affinis. Envir Biol Fishes 29:127–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leusch FDL, Chapman HF, Kay GW, Gooneratne SR, Tremblay LA (2006) Anal fin morphology and gonadal histopathology in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) exposed to treated municipal sewage effluent. Arch Envir Contam Toxic 50:562–574

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh-Matthews E, Brooks M, Deaton R, Tan H (2005) Effects of maternal and embryo characteristics on post-fertilization provisioning in fishes of the genus Gambusia. Oecologia 144:12–24

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meffe G (1985) Life history patterns of Gambusia marshi (Poeciliidae) from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico. Copeia 1985:898–905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orlando EF, Bass DE, Caltabiano LM, Davis WP, Gray LE Jr, Guillete LJ Jr (2007) Altered development and reproduction in mosquitofish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluent in the Fenholloway River, Florida USA. Aqua Toxic 84:399–405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parks LG, Lambright CS, Orlando EF, Guillette LJ Jr, Ankley GT, Gray LE Jr (2001) Masculinization of female mosquitofish in kraft mill effluent-contaminated Fenholloway River water is associated with androgen receptor agonist activity. Toxico Sci 62:257–267

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riehl R (1991) Masculinization in a hermaphroditic female of the mosquitofish Heteroandria formosa. Ichthyological Res 37:374–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen DE, Bailey RM (1963) The poeciliid fishes (Cyprinodontiformes), their structure, zoogeography, and systematics. Bull Amer Mus Natural Hist 126:1–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlupp I, Parzefall J, Epplen JT, Nanda I, Schmid M, Schartl M (1992) Pseudomale behaviour and spontaneous masculinization in the all-female teleost Poecilia formosa (Teleostei: Poeciliidae). Behav 122:88–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreck C, Contreras-Sanchez W, Fitzpatrick M (2001) Effects of stress on fish reproduction, gamete quality, and progeny. Aquaculture 194:3–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SPSS v. 17.0. Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.

  • Toft G, Edwards TM, Baatrup E, Guillette LJ Jr (2003) Disturbed sexual characteristics in male mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) from a lake contaminated with endocrine disruptors. Envir Health Persp 111:695–701

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toft G, Baatrup E, Guillette LJ Jr (2004) Altered social behavior and sexual characteristics in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) living downstream of a paper mill. Aqua Toxic 70(3):213–222

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner CL (1942a) Morphogenesis of the gonopodial suspensorium in Gambusia affinis affinis and the induction of male suspensorial characters in the female by androgenic hormones. J Exp Zool 91:167–193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner CL (1942b) A quantitative study of the effects of different concentrations of ethinyl testosterone and methyl testosterone in the production of gonopodia in females of Gambusia affinis. Phys Zool 15:263–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Vizziano D, Baron D, Randuineau G, Mahé S, Cauty C, Guigen Y (2008) Rainbow Trout gonadal masculinization induced by inhibition of estrogen synthesis is more physiological than masculinization induced by androgen supplementation. Bio Repro 78:939–946

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan HY (1986) Report of a naturally masculinized female of the clear creek Gambusia, Gambusia heterochir Hubbs. J Fish Biol 28:55–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Sibyl Bucheli for microscope use and Sarah Marshall, Stacy Stoops, and Justin Degrate for field assistance. We also thank Chad Hargrave for field assistance, fish samples, and use of laboratory equipment. All fish were collected with permission of Texas Parks and Wildlife (permit SPR-0607-1370 to R Deaton) and approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Sam Houston State University (# 07-01-31-1012-3-01 to R Deaton).

Author information

Author notes

  1. James C. Cureton II

    Present address: Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Zoology and Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, 111 E. Chesapeake Street, Norman, OK, 73071, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University, P.O. Box 2116, Huntsville, TX, 77341, USA

    Raelynn Deaton & James C. Cureton II

Authors
  1. Raelynn Deaton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. James C. Cureton II
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raelynn Deaton.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deaton, R., Cureton, J.C. Female masculinization and reproductive life history in the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Environ Biol Fish 92, 551–558 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9878-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9878-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation