I did a quick look-in-Google Scholar... "lepomis breed body size effect" had
some promise, but I really don't have the time to run it down. There seemed
to be a lot of pdfs involved, which is pretty consistent with any game
species, since we "all" sorta paid for the information. So you may be able to
find your gem without sitting in a local university library.
I know, shame on me, spouting off things and not backing them up :)
If I find time tomorrow, I'll peek around on EBSCO or another of the academic
search engines and see if I can find something. If you find a citation that
looks good and can't get it, please email me off list and I'll see if I can't
get you a pdf. That's the least I can do :)
Todd
________________________________
From: owner-nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org on behalf of Bob Bock
Sent: Sun 11/27/2005 2:02 PM
To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
Subject: NANFA-L-- reference precocious Green Sunfish
Hey Todd, do you have a reference for this phenomenon? (I'm still working on
my sunfish slide show.)
Thanks.
-----Original Message-----
From: "Crail, Todd" <tcrail-in-UTNet.UToledo.Edu>
Sent: Nov 27, 2005 12:23 PM
To: nanfa-l-in-nanfa.org
Subject: RE: NANFA-L-- precocious Green Sunfish
Hi George,
One of the adaptations of the sunfishes, and particularly graphic in the
genus
Lepomis, is to be able to produce small yet fertile clutches in stunted
populations (for whatever biotic or abiotic reason),-in-small body sizes.
This
is especially true in the green sunfish, which is a species that has a strong
presence in headwater communities. While this is a small male who's just
sewing his oats, and nothing serious will come of it... In the wild, in many
situations, it would not be strange for a fish that size to nest and attract
fertile females.
That or he's just a real show off. ;)
I was suspicious that the "other fish" was another species, and his behavior
is that of newly introduced orangespots, I think you've nailed it. For
sunfish, they're the shy guys. Very rewarding to keep though because you can
stuff 'em in with all sorts of wimpy minnows and darters and they behave so
danged well... Unlike those greens which you'll swear off as Satan's spawn,
even in a tank with only members of their own genus! :)
I trust the "keeper worship" has begun as well? The part where they're going
"Oh oh! ME! Oh Oh! Food? Oh Oh! ME ME! Food? Yes? Oh Oh! Oh Oh Please!"
Todd
The Muddy Maumee Madness, Toledo, OH
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
http://www.farmertodd.com
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/ Association (NANFA). Comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of NANFA. For more information about NANFA,
/ visit http://www.nanfa.org Please make sure all posts to nanfa-l are
/ consistent with the guidelines as per
/ http://www.nanfa.org/guidelines.shtml To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get
/ help, visit the NANFA email list home page and archive at
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