Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Alternative life histories of the genusLucania: 1. Early ontogeny ofL. parva, the rainwater killifish

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

Synopsis

This is the first of three papers devoted to the description and interpretation of early morphological development in altricial and precocial species within the genusLucania. This study focussed on the early life history of the rainwater killifish,Lucania parva. Reproductively mature specimens were collected in brackish impoundments of the St. Marks National Wildife Refuge in northwest Florida, and transported to the laboratory where they served as brood stock for specimens described in this study. Laboratory-reared offspring ofL. parva were described according to the saltatory theory of ontogeny, which gives a sampling design based on morphological, rather than chronological, progression. The morphological development of these offspring is described on the basis of detailed illustrations, photomicrographs, and measurements of mensural and meristic characters. This account of early ontogeny, in combination with a corresponding study on the early ontogeny of the bluefin killifish,L. goodei (Crawford & Balon 1994a), establishes the empirical basis for an altricial-precocial life history model (Crawford & Balon 1994b).

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Alberch, P. 1985. Problems with the interpretation of developmental sequences. Syst. Zool. 34: 46–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, P.B. & J.S. Child. 1965. Stages in the normal development ofFundulus heteroclitus. Biol. Bull. 128: 143–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balinsky, B.I. 1981. An introduction to embryology, 5th edition. Saunders College Publishing, Toronto. 768 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1975. Terminology of intervals in fish development. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 1663–1670.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1980. Early ontogen of the lake charr,Salvelinus (Cristivomer) namaycush. pp. 485–562.In: E.K. Balon (ed.) Charrs: Salmonid Fishes of the Genus Salvelinus. Perspectivesin Vertebrate Science 1, Dr. W. Junk Publishers, The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1981. Saltatory processes and altricial to precocial forms in the ontogeny of fishes. Amer. Zool. 21: 573–596.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1985. The theory of saltatory ontogeny and life history models revisited. pp. 13–30.In: E.K. Balon (ed), Early Life Histories of Fishes: New Developmental, Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives,Dev. in Env. Biol. Fish. 5, Dr. W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1986. Saltatory ontogeny and evolution. Rivista di Biologia 79: 151–190.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1989. The epigenetic mechanisms of bifurcation and alternative life-history styles. pp. 467–501.In: M.N. Bruton (ed), Alternative Life-History Styles of Animals, Perspectives in Vertebrate Science. Kluwer Academic PublishersDordrecht, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. 1990. Epigenesis of an epigeneticist: the development of some alternative concepts on the early ontogeny and evolution of fishes. Guelph Ichthyol. Rev. 1: 1–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balon, E.K. & C. Flegler-Baton. 1985. Microscopic techniques for studies of early ontogeny in fishes: problems and methods of composite descriptions. pp. 33–35.In: E.K. Baton (ed.) Early Life Histories of Fishes: New Developmental, Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives, Dev. in Env. Biol. Fish. 5, Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd, M. 1928. A comparison of the oxygen consumption of unfertilized and fertilized eggs ofFundulus heteroclitus. Biol. Bull. 55: 92–98.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Breder, C.M. Jr. 1948. Field book of marine fishes of the Atlantic coast. G.P. Putnam and Sons, New York. 332 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brummett, A.R. & J.N. Dumont. 1981. A comparison of chorions from eggs of northern and southern populations ofFundulus heteroclitus. Copeia 1981: 607–614.

  • Burgess, G.H., C.R. Gilbert, V. Guillory & D.C. Taphorn. 1977. Distributional notes on some north Florida freshwater fishes. Florida Sci. 40: 33–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, S.S. 1993. Ecomorphological comparison of early ontogeny in species of the genusLucania (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph. 264 pp.

  • Crawford,S.S. & E.K.Balon. 1994a. tAlternative life histories of the genusLucania: 2. Early ontogeny ofL. goodei, the bluefin killifish. Env. Biol. Fish. 41 (in press).

  • Crawford, S.S. & E.K. Baton. 1994b. Alternative life histories of the genusLucania: 3. An ecomorphological explanation of altricial (L. parva) and precocial (L. goodei) forms. Env. Biol. Fish. 41 (in press).

  • Crawford, S.S. & E.K. Balon. 1994c. Development of morphological variation in fishes of the genusLucania. Copeia (in preparation).

  • Cunningham, J.E.R. & E.K. Baton. 1985. Early ontogeny ofAdinia xenica (Pisces, Cyprinodontiformes): 1. Development of embryos in hiding. Env. Biol. Fish. 14: 115–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J.E.R. & E.K. Balon. 1986a. Early ontogeny ofAdinia xenica (Pisces, Cyprinodontiformes): 2. Implications of embryonic resting interval for larval development. Env. Biol. Fish. 15: 15–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J.E.R. & E.K. Balon. 1986b. Early ontogeny ofAdinia xenica (Pisces, Cyprinodontiformes): 3. Comparison and evolutionary significance of some patterns in epigenesis of egg-scattering, hiding and bearing cyprinodontiforms. Env. Biol. Fish. 15: 91–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duggins, C.F. 1980. Systematics and zoogeography ofLucania parva, Floridichthys, andMenidia (Osteichthyes: Atheriniformes) in Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, Ph.D. Thesis, The Florida State University, Tallahassee. 168 pp.

  • Foster, N.R. 1967. Comparative studies on the biology of killifishes (Pisces, Cyprinodontidae). Ph.D. Thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca. 369 pp.

  • Gabriel, M.L. 1944. Factors affecting the number and form of vertebrae inFundulus heteroclitus. J. Exp. Zool. 95: 105–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorodilov, Y.N. 1992. Rhythmic processes in lower vertebrate embryogenesis and their role for developmental control. Zool. Sci. 9: 1101–1111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goto, A. 1990. Alternative life-history styles of Japanese freshwater sculpins revisited. Env. Biol. Fish. 28: 101–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand, S.F & W.C. Schroeder. 1928. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43: 1–366 (1972 Reprint by T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 388 pp.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hodson, P.V. & J.B. Sprague. 1975. Temperature-induced changes in acute toxicity of zinc to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 32: 1–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs, C.L. & K.F. Lagler. 1958. Fishes of the Great Lakes region. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 213 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubbs, C.L. & R.R. Miller. 1965. Studies of cyprinodont fishes. 22. Variation inLucania parva, its establishment in western United States, and description of a new species from an interior basin in Coahuila, Mexico. Misc. Publ., Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan. 127: 1–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan, D.S. & B.W. Evermann. 1896. The fishes of North and Middle America. Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus. 47: 1–1240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilby, J.D. 1955. The fishes of two gulf coastal marsh areas of Florida. Tulane Stud. Zool. 2: 175–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, C.C. & R.J. Livingston. 1976. The embryological development of the diamond killifish (Adinia xenixa). Copeia 1976: 435–445.

  • Kryzhanovsky, S.G. 1934. Die Atmungsorgane der Fischlarven (Teleostomi). Zool. Jahrb., Abt. Anat. Ontog. der Tiere 58: 21–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuntz, A. 1916. Notes on the embryology and larval development of five species of teleostean fishes. Bull. U.S. Bureau Fish. 34: 407–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laale, H.W. 1980. The perivitelline space and egg envelops of bony fishes: a review. Copeia 1980: 210–226.

  • Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D.E. McAllister & J.R. Stauffer Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh. 867 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftus, W.E. & J.A. Kushlan. 1987. Freshwater fishes of southern Florida. Bull. Flor. State Mus. Biol. Sci. 31: 344 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Løvtrup, S. 1982. The four theories of evolution. Rivista di Biologia 75: 53–66, 231–272, 385–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mansueti, A.J. & J.D. Hardy Jr. 1967. Development of fishes of the Chesapeake Bay region: an atlas of egg, larval, and juvenile stages. Part I. Natural Resources Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore. 202 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • McClane, A.J. 1978. McClane's field guide to saltwater fishes of North America. Henry Holt and Company, New York. 283 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • McElman, J.F. & E.K. Balon. 1979. Early ontogeny of walleye,Stizostedion vitreum, with steps of saltatory development. Env. Biol. Fish. 4: 309–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oppenheimer, J.M. 1937. The normal stages ofFundulus heteroclitus. Anat. Rec. 68: 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oster, G. & P. Alberch. 1982. Evolution and bifurcation of developmental programs. Evolution 36: 444–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parenti, L.R. 1981. A phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of cyprinodontiform fishes (Teleostei, Atherinomorpha). Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 168: 341–557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solberg, A.N. 1938. The development of a bony fish. Progr. Fish. Cult. 40: 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, W. 1980. The blue-fin,Lucania goodei, a coldwater top minnow. Trop. Fish Hobb. 28: 46–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Springer, V.G. & K.D. Woodburn. 1960. An ecological study of the fishes of the Tampa Bay area. Prof Pap. Series 1, Florida State Board of Conservation Marine Laboratory. 104 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trinkaus, J.P. 1967. Procurement, maintenance and use ofFundulus eggs. pp. 113–122.In: F.H. Wilt & N.K. Wessels (ed.) Methods in Developmental Biology, T.Y. Crowell Co., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veenstra, R.S. 1987. Ecomorphological comparisons of early development in an altricial (Lucania parva) and in a precocial (Lucania goodei) cyprinodont. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Guelph, Guelph. 95 pp.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ichthyology and Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada

    Stephen S. Crawford & Eugene K. Balon

Authors
  1. Stephen S. Crawford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eugene K. Balon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Crawford, S.S., Balon, E.K. Alternative life histories of the genusLucania: 1. Early ontogeny ofL. parva, the rainwater killifish. Environ Biol Fish 40, 349–389 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005280

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005280

Key words

Search

Navigation