Evolutionary Ecology The Trinidadian Guppy

by Magurran, Anne E.

• ISBN13: 9780198527855
• ISBN10: 0198527853
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-10-20
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This book celebrates the guppy's unique contribution to evolutionary ecology. Ever since Caryl Haskins described guppy populations as a 'natural experiment' because of the way predation pressure varies over a small geographical area, generations of researchers have been drawn to Trinidad toinvestigate evolution in the wild. The species continues to provide classic examples of natural selection in action and elegantly illustrates how ecology, evolution, and behaviour are interlinked. Anne Magurran's account of the evolutionary ecology of the guppy integrates historical breakthroughs with new research in this fast-moving field. She reveals how guppies provided some of the first evidence of sperm competition and sexual selection, and how they continue to inform scientific thoughton mating systems and cryptic choice. The consequences of variation in predation risk--as well as a host of other biotic and abiotic factors--are described and evaluated at all life stages from conception to death. The book discusses behavioural responses to ecological conditions alongside lifehistory patterns. It examines the potential for ecological speciation and discusses new research into how reproductive isolating mechanisms become established in promiscuous mating systems. Conservation issues are also considered, both in terms of protecting the irreplaceable Trinidadian guppysystem and in the context of invasion ecology. This timely synthesis of research into a species that has raised key questions in evolutionary ecology will be of great interest to graduate level students as well as professional researchers in the fields of behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology.

Author Biography

Anne Magurran is Professor of Ecology and Evolution at the University of St Andrews, UK.

Table of Contents

1 Preview	1	(10)
1.1 Evolutionary ecology in the context of this book	3	(1)
1.2 A primer of guppy biology	3	(6)
1.2.1 Nomenclature	3	(1)
1.2.2 Taxonomy and phylogeny	3	(1)
1.2.3 Distribution	4	(3)
1.2.4 Ecology	7	(1)
1.2.5 Reproduction	7	(1)
1.2.6 Life-history patterns	8	(1)
1.3 Overview of the book	9	(2)
2 Ecology of the guppy in Trinidad	11	(31)
2.1 What makes Trinidad special?	13	(1)
2.2 Predators	13	(16)
2.2.1 Fish predators	15	(9)
2.2.2 Composition of fish assemblages	24	(1)
2.2.3 Avian predators	24	(3)
2.2.4 Other vertebrates	27	(1)
2.2.5 Invertebrate predators	27	(2)
2.3 ...and productivity	29	(1)
2.4 Feeding behaviour of the guppy	30	(3)
2.5 Parasites	33	(1)
2.6 Dynamical aspects of ecology—variation over time as well as space	34	(5)
2.6.1 Density	34	(1)
2.6.2 Sex ratio	35	(4)
2.7 Geographical variation in guppy traits	39	(1)
2.8 Conclusions	40	(2)
3 Evading predators	42	(29)
3.1 Predator–prey interactions	43	(9)
3.1.1 Predator avoidance	43	(1)
3.1.2 Detection	44	(1)
3.1.3 Discrimination	45	(1)
3.1.4 Inhibition	46	(1)
3.1.5 Predator monitoring	47	(2)
3.1.6 Predator inspection and reciprocity—a guppy's eye view	49	(3)
3.1.7 Evasion tactics	52	(1)
3.2 Consequences of variation in predation risk	52	(2)
3.3 Evidence for evolution	54	(6)
3.4 Kinship, familiarity, and predator avoidance	60	(3)
3.5 Populations and learning	63	(2)
3.6 Ontogenetic shifts in behaviour and morphology	65	(2)
3.7 Differences between the sexes in response to predation	67	(3)
3.8 Conclusions	70	(1)
4 Reproduction	71	(24)
4.1 Reproductive biology and behaviour	72	(6)
4.2 Female (and male) choice	78	(5)
4.3 Variation in mate choice and reproductive behaviour in relation to risk	83	(3)
4.4 Multiple mating	86	(4)
4.5 Sperm competition	90	(1)
4.6 Cryptic choice?	91	(1)
4.7 Good genes?	92	(2)
4.8 Conclusions	94	(1)
5 Life-history patterns	95	(21)
5.1 Evolution of life-history patterns	95	(2)
5.2 The role of predators	97	(7)
5.3 Resource availability and intraspecific competition	104	(2)
5.4 Seasonality	106	(1)
5.5 Plasticity and the social environment	107	(1)
5.6 Plasticity and predators	107	(1)
5.7 Temperature effects	108	(2)
5.8 Aging and senescence	110	(4)
5.9 Conclusions	114	(2)
6 Evolution of reproductive isolation	116	(17)
6.1 The case against incipient speciation	116	(2)
6.2 Divergence and the potential for allopatric speciation	118	(1)
6.3 Pre-mating isolation	118	(4)
6.4 Sexual coercion	122	(2)
6.5 Post-mating, pre-zygotic (gametic) isolation	124	(2)
6.6 Post-zygotic isolation	126	(2)
6.7 Learned mate recognition and reproductive isolation	128	(2)
6.8 Relative importance of different reproductive barriers	130	(1)
6.9 Sympatric speciation	131	(1)
6.10 Conclusions	132	(1)
7 Conserving a natural experiment	133	(16)
7.1 Guppies as a model species for conservation	133	(3)
7.1.1 Inbreeding	135	(1)
7.2 Populations in peril	136	(3)
7.3 Distribution of research effort in the Northern Range in Trinidad	139	(3)
7.4 Population viability	142	(3)
7.5 Long-term consequences of artificial introductions	145	(1)
7.6 Exotic guppies	146	(1)
7.7 Conclusions	147	(2)
8 Postscript and prospects	149	(7)
8.1 The test of time	149	(1)
8.2 Future directions	150	(3)
8.2.1 The guppy genome	150	(1)
8.2.2 Success of sneaky mating	151	(1)
8.2.3 Dynamics of sperm competition	151	(1)
8.2.4 Maternal investment versus genetic sire effects	152	(1)
8.2.5 Ontogeny	152	(1)
8.2.6 Lifetime reproductive success	152	(1)
8.2.7 Predation risk	153	(1)
8.2.8 Multiple cues in predator evasion and mate choice	153	(1)
8.3 Some thoughts on experimental design	153	(2)
8.4 More than the sum of the parts	155	(1)
References	156	(37)
Index	193