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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Microinjection for Transgenesis and Genome Editing in Threespine Sticklebacks

Published on: May 13, 2016

EVOLUTION OF PELVIC REDUCTION IN THREESPINE STICKLEBACK FISH: A TEST OF COMPETING HYPOTHESES.

Michael A Bell¹, Guillermo Ortí¹, Jeffrey A Walker²

¹Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York, 11794.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|June 2, 2017

Summary

Pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback is linked to fewer predatory fish and low calcium levels. This pelvic reduction is contingent on the absence of predatory fish, highlighting complex environmental interactions.

Keywords:

Adaptation Gasterosteus aculeatus calcium concentration geographical variation natural selection postglacial differentiation selective predation

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Ecology
Ichthyology

Background:

The threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) exhibits pelvic reduction, a trait with debated evolutionary drivers.
Two main hypotheses exist: predation pressure (insects vs. fish) and environmental factors like calcium concentration.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the environmental factors associated with pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback populations.
To test the hypotheses proposed by Reimchen and Giles regarding pelvic reduction drivers.

Main Methods:

Sampling of threespine stickleback from 179 lakes in Cook Inlet, Alaska.
Statistical analysis to correlate pelvic reduction with environmental variables (predatory fish presence, calcium concentration).

Main Results:

Significant association found between pelvic reduction and both absence of predatory fish and low calcium concentration.
The link between pelvic reduction and low calcium is dependent on the absence of predatory fish.
Results suggest complex interactions between environmental variables influencing trait selection.

Conclusions:

Predatory fish absence and low calcium concentration interact to drive pelvic reduction in threespine stickleback.
Findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple, potentially unrelated, environmental factors in evolutionary studies.
Further research is needed as results conflict with some observations and other factors may be involved.