Water turbidity by algal blooms causes mating system breakdown in a shallow-water fish, the sand goby Pomatoschistus minutus

Marja Järvenpää, Kai Lindström*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

119 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Eutrophication as a result of human activity has resulted in increased algal blooms and turbidity in aquatic environments. We investigated experimentally the effect of algal turbidity on the mating system and sexual selection in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus (Pallas), a marine fish with a resource-defence mating system and paternal care. Owing to male-male competition and female choice, large males can monopolize multiple mates, while some males do not achieve mating at all. We show that the number of eggs laid was the same in both turbid and clear tanks but that mating success was more evenly distributed among males in turbid than in clear water. The opportunity for sexual selection was lower in turbid conditions. In turbid conditions mating success was less skewed towards large males. Our results suggest that increased turbidity can change mating systems and decrease the opportunity for sexual selection as well as selection intensity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2361-2365
Number of pages5
JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume271
Issue number1555
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Nov 2004
Externally publishedYes
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Breeding system
  • Eutrophication
  • Pomatoschistus
  • Sand goby
  • Sexual selection
  • Turbidity

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