Publication Abstract

The effect of elevated temperature on spawning frequency and spawning behaviour of introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus in Europe

The effect of elevated temperature on spawning frequency and spawning behaviour of introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus in Europe

G. Zięba*, M.G. Fox & G.H. Copp*

Established in over 28 European countries, pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, an introduced North American centrarchid, is currently considered invasive in the warmer, southern parts of its European range but non-invasive in most northern locations. The species is predicted to increase the number of spawning bouts in warmer waters, which under climate change conditions could result in English pumpkinseed populations becoming ‘invasive’. To test this prediction, pumpkinseed reproductive behaviour was examined in two sets of artificial ponds, maintained under ambient and climate change (elevated by 2–3 °C) water temperature regimes during the 2009 spawning season, using a passive integrated transponder (PIT) array system and PIT-tagged male and female pumpkinseed. We compared: i) the onset and duration of the reproductive period; ii) the frequency of female pumpkinseed visits to nests defended by males; and iii) the duration of female’s visits to nests. In the heated ponds, pumpkinseed reproduction was characterized by: a) an earlier onset of spawning, b) no significant difference in the frequency of spawning visits by females to nests; and c) the number of spawning events was significantly greater early compared with later in the season. Spawning earlier in the season is likely to lead to larger body size in young-of-year going into winter and higher overwinter survival. For these reasons, it is likely that the pumpkinseed will become more invasive in the UK under warmer climatic conditions.

Reference:

G. Zięba*, M.G. Fox & G.H. Copp* (2013) The effect of elevated temperature on spawning frequency and spawning behaviour of introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus in Europe. Journal of Fish Biology 77, 1850–1855

G. Zięba*, M.G. Fox & G.H. Copp*

Journal of Fish Biology 77, 1850–1855