Date of Award
5-2023
Access Control
Open Access
Degree Name
Great Lakes Ecosystem Science
Department
Great Lakes Center
Advisor
Dr. Randal Snyder
Department Home page
https://greatlakescenter.buffalostate.edu/
First Reader
Dr. Randal Snyder
Second Reader
Dr. Christopher Pennuto
Third Reader
Dr. Alicia Perez-Fuentetaja
Abstract
North-temperate fishes are subject to significant changes in abiotic and biotic conditions across seasons, which are likely reflected in temporal differences in energy dynamics, reproductive investment, and diet. This study explores seasonal changes in body lipid content, female reproductive investment (GSI), body condition (Fulton’s K), and diet in brook sticklebacks (Culaea inconstans) in Western New York. I expected body lipid content and body condition would decline during the breeding season reflecting energy expenditure for reproduction, and these parameters would increase in the summer and fall prior to the onset of winter. Based on previous studies, I also expected the diet of sticklebacks would vary seasonally, reflecting a broad and flexible feeding strategy. GSI of female brook sticklebacks was highest during the spring, declined and remained low during the summer, and gradually increased during the fall; Fulton’s K showed a similar pattern. In contrast, body lipid content increased during the spring in male and female sticklebacks before declining in the summer and increasing in the fall, and Fulton’s K overall was not a reliable predictor of female body lipid. The diet of brook sticklebacks was broad in terms of the number of taxa consumed but was focused primarily on aquatic insects and crustaceans. The feeding strategy was seasonally variable, expressing a generalist feeding strategy in the spring and more specialized in the summer and fall. An enhanced understanding of prey fish energetics may aid in informing the management and conservation of native freshwater fish communities, sport fisheries management, and waterfowl conservation.
Recommended Citation
Basista, Matthew P.; Snyder, Randal; Pennuto, Christopher; and Perez-Fuentetaja, Alicia, "Seasonal variation in condition, body lipid, reproductive investment, and diet in brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans)" (2023). Great Lakes Center Masters Theses. 11.
https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/greatlakes_theses/11
