HELP ON ECOLOGY LAB REPORT PLEASE!!! - The AIM of this lab exercise: Does Easter
ID: 151949 • Letter: H
Question
HELP ON ECOLOGY LAB REPORT PLEASE!!!
- The AIM of this lab exercise: Does Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) population structure differ with season?
- You will compare population structure in an FIU pond from February 2018 (previous semester) with the data that you collect this semester (September 2018).
1- The imortance of this experiment
2- Backgrounf info leading to the knowledge gap/problem
3- What differ between seasons that might affect fish populations
4- Backgroung on gambusia holbrooki reproduction and population structure
5- State your research objectives and biological hypotheses
3 references
FEBRUARY 2018 CURRENT RESULTS
Age Weighted Fecundity 1(x)*b(x)*x
14.673 Offspring
0.024 Ind/ Days
Optimal Age for Sexual Maturity
SEPTEMBER 2018 RESULTS:
Age Class (days)x Sample/ Age
s(x) Number/ Age
n(x) Survival Rate
1(x) Fecundity b(x) Offspring/Ind 1(x)*b(x)
Age Weighted Fecundity 1(x)*b(x)*x
0 24 120 1 0 0 0 30 39 96 0.8 0 0 0 60 19 57 0.475 0 0 0 90 21 38 0.317 24 7.608 684.72 120 8 17 0.142 27 3.834 460.08 150 5 9 0.075 29 2.175 326.25 180 2 4 0.033 32 1.056 190.08 210 0 2 0.017 0 0 0 240 1 2 0.017 0 0 0 Sum 120 R014.673 Offspring
G 113.209 Days r0.024 Ind/ Days
Optimal Age for Sexual Maturity
120 DaysExplanation / Answer
1. This experiment helps to understand the population dynamics of Gambusia holbrooki during two different times of a year.in an FIU pond. It will provide a better understanding of the factors affecting the population dynamics of eastern mosquitofish.
2. Gambusia holbrooki, also known as the eastern mosquitofish has been introduced in the water bodies worldwide to control mosquitoes breeding and thus, mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, however, it is now known to reduce aquatic biodiversity (Milton and Arthington; 1983) by consuming the larvae of other aquatic organisms (Meffe et al., 1983) and indirectly increase the mosquito population (Blaustein and Karban; 1990). There is extensive research on the effects of Gambusia holbrooki on the ecosystem, however, little is known about their population and reproductive patterns in various seasons.
3. Two important factors that might that affect the fish population in the two seasons are photoperiod and temperature of the water. Photoperiod and temperature are lower in February due to winters while higher in September. Lesser photoperiod and temperature probably lead to lower survival rates and offspring production in February as is evident from the data collected.
4. Gambusia holbrooki are viviparous and have an internal reproduction. The male mosquito fish ejaculates sperm into the female genital aperture where the fertilization occurs zygote remains in the ovary for gestation as the fish lacks a uterus. mosquito fish can store sperms from more than one male fish, which can later fertilize with more ova to produce zygotes. Baby mosquitofish of length 8 to 10mm are reproduced at the end of the gestation period. They are mainly found in stagnant or slow-flowing water of shallow ponds or lakes with a temperature of about 31 to 35 degree Celcius.
5. Research Objective - To study the difference in the population structure of Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) in different seasons.
Biological hypothesis - The reproductive cycle and the population structure of Gambusia holbrooki is dependent upon photoperiod and temperature of the water in which they live.
References
Blaustein, L. and Karban, R. 1990. Indirect effects of mosquitofish Gambusia on mosquito Culex tarsalis, Limnology and Oceanography.
Meffe G.K., Offspring size variation in mosquitofish ( Gambusia holbrooki) from contrasting thermal environments, Copeia 1990
Milton, D.A. and A.H. Arthington 1983. Reproductive Biology of Gambusia, Journal of Fish Biology.
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