Influences of maternal stress on early life characteristics of offspring in threespine stickleback fish
Date of Award
2017
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology
Department
Biology
Chief Instructor
Susan A. Foster
Second Reader
John A. Baker
Third Reader
Philip P. Bergman
Keywords
Biology, Animal sciences, Evolution & development
Abstract
Feeding performance in early life is predictive of individual survival and reproductive success. Here I take advantage of the broad geographical range inhabited by the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus , to consider how ecological factors might shape early life characteristics over evolutionary time. Additionally, with the application of maternal stressors, I investigate the extent to which offspring growth and behavior are plastically influenced by maternal condition. First generation lab-reared parents were studied, representing populations in British Columbia and Alaska. Gravid females received one of four treatments: acute stressor at ovulation, chronic stressor throughout clutch production, post-ovulatory egg retention (an ecologically relevant challenge) or minimal handling time at ovulation (control). Fry were reared under identical conditions and assayed for growth and feeding performance during the first three weeks post yolk absorption. Fry from the minimal stress treatment differed from those of the three applied stress treatments in terms of growth rate, but not in feeding performance. I discuss how early life traits are affected by maternal stressors, ecological conditions, parental rearing environment, and interactions among these factors.
Recommended Citation
Fragata., Amanda E. S, "Influences of maternal stress on early life characteristics of offspring in threespine stickleback fish" (2017). Biology. 1.
https://commons.clarku.edu/biology_masters_papers/1