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Life history of Gambusia holbrooki (Pisces, Poeciliidae) in the Ebro delta (NE Iberian peninsula)

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Abstract

We studied age, growth and reproduction of an introduced poeciliid, Gambusia holbrooki (Agassiz, 1859), in the Ebro delta marshes. Maximum ages observed were 2+ in females and 0+ in males. Growth commenced in March and continued until September. Females reached greater sizes, had a higher rate of growth and lived longer than males. The largest sizes found were 63 mm ♀♀ versus 32 mm ♂♂. Multiple spawning occurred throughout the reproductive cycle (from May to September). The average brood size per female reached its maximum in July in the parental cohort (86 embryos/♀) and in August in the offspring cohort (29 embryos/♀). After reproduction the parental cohort decreased drastically. The relationship between fecundity (F) and total length (mm) was calculated for each month of the reproductive period. Sex-ratio deviated significantly from unity.

Viviparity, several broods and large larvae provide G. holbrooki with several advantages over oviparous species. The capacity to adjust its life history to a particular environment could explain the life history differences between those in the Ebro delta and other populations.

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  1. faculty of Biology, Animal Biology Department (Vertebrates), Avda. Diagonal, 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    M. J. Vargas & A. de Sostoa

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  1. M. J. Vargas
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Vargas, M.J., de Sostoa, A. Life history of Gambusia holbrooki (Pisces, Poeciliidae) in the Ebro delta (NE Iberian peninsula). Hydrobiologia 341, 215–224 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00014686

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