M.S.Q111.H3 4141 DEC 2006 R.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I LIBRARY REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF ELEOTRIS SANDWICENSIS, A HAWAIIAN STREAM GOBIOID FISH A THESIS SUBMlITED TO THE GRADUATE DMSION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ZOOLOGY (ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGy) DECEMBER 2006 By TaraK. Sim Thesis Committee: Robert Kinzie, Chairperson Kathleen Cole Michael Kido We certify that we have read this thesis and that, in our opinion, it is satisfactory in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology. THESIS COMMITTEE i Acknowledgements Committee members: R Kinzie, K. Cole, M. Kido. P. Ha for guidance and encouragement. J. Efird for statistical analysis. T. Carvablo, R Shimojo for assistance with laboratory techniques. Q. He for histology help. G. Arakaki and H. Sim for help in the field. S. Togashi for technical support and field assistance. Limahuli National Tropical Botanical Garden and Hale. Support for this project was provided by EPSCoR ii Abstract Spawning season, size at first reproduction, oocyte maturation, fecundity and spawning frequency ofEleotris sandwicensis, an amphidromous Hawaiian gobioid, were studied from July 2004 through December 2005 in Nuuanu stream, Oahn, Hawaii. The smallest male and female fish with mature gonads measured 54 mm standard length. Ripe individuals were collected in all months, and gonadosomatic index was highest in males and females from June 2004 through February 2005. Size-frequency distributions of measurements of vitello genic oocyte diameters and microscopic observations of oocytes indicated this species has asynchronous oocyte development. Estimates of batch fecundity ranged from 5000 eggs to 55000 eggs. Batch fecundity was positively related to standard length, wet weight, and ovary weight, and inversely related to oocyte diameter. Eleotris sandwicensis appears to be capable of repeat spawning. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ...............................................................................il Abstract .............................•..............................................................iii List of tables ........................................................................................v List of figures ..............................•.......................................................vi Introduction ...........................................•.•.......................................... 1 Studies on Hawaiian stream gobioids ......•.......................................... 1 Study organism ...........................................................................2 Amphidromy ...................•.•.•.......................................................3 MaterialsIMethods ..........................................•..•....•.•............................3 Nuuanu Stream study...........................................••.•....•.................. 3 Work on additional streams .........................................................•...7 Results .................................................•........................................... 7 Nuuanu Stream study .................................................................... 7 Work on additional streams .••••.•.•.•.•••.•.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•.•.••••. 11 Discussion ......................................................................................... 11 Appendix ............................................................................•............30 Appendix 1: size frequency histograms .............................................30 Appendix 2: female data .••••.•.•.••..........•.•.....•••.••••....•.•.•.....•.........35 Appendix 3: male data ...................•.•.•....•.•.•...••.•...........••...•....•.•37 References ...............................................................•..•.....................39 iv List oftables Table ~ 1. Specimen collection data for Nuuanu ..................................... 18 2. Oocyte stages in Eleotris sandwtcensis .•................................. 19 3. Collection data from 6 streams (males) ...................................20 4. Collection data from 6 streams (females} .................................21 v List of figures Figure ~ 1 Oocyte stages ofE. sandwicensis .....................•.....................22 2 Testes stages ofE. sandwicensis ............................................ 23 3 Size at maturity of females ...................................................24 4 Size at maturity of males .....................................................25 5 Spawning season of females .................................................26 6 Spawning season of males ...................................................27 7 Standard length comparisons ................................................28 8 Wet weight comparisons .............................................•......29 vi Introduction Streams provide habitat to Hawaii's native freshwater macrofauna, which includes five gobioid fishes, three mollusks and seven decapod crustaceans (Timbol and Maciolek 1978). Of the five species of gobioid fish native to Hawaiian freshwater systems, 4 species are true gobies, belonging to the family Gobiidae (Timbol and Maciolek 1978). The other, Eleotris sandwicensis, is a sleeper belonging to the family Eleotridae (Gosline and Brock 1960). Eleotrids are common inhabitants of tropical coastal habitats throughout the world (Winemiller and Ponwith 1998). With gobies, they are important components of stream and estuarine systems on tropical oceanic islands (Fitzsimons, et al1996; Winemiller and Ponwith 1998). The family Eleotridae is composed of35 genera and roughly 155 species (Nelson 2006). Distribution ofeleotrids extends as far north as the Atlantic coast of the United States and as far south as Stewart Island, New Zealand (Nelson 2oo6). Historically, Eleotris sandwicensis was an important cultural resource to Native Hawaiians, being one of the favorite food fishes (Titcomb 1978). Studies on Hawaiian stream gobioids Although little work has been done on the biology of Eleotris sandwicensis, the reproductive biology of other Hawaiian freshwater gobioid species have been studied. Kinzie (1993) studied the goby Lentipes con color, and reported the breeding season from October to June, with a peak in late winter and early spring. Females are believed to spawn more than a single clutch per breeding season (Kinzie 1993). Ego (1956) and Ha and Kinzie (1996) studied Awaous guamensis and found it spawns between August and 1 December. In A. guamensis, size at first maturity was determined to be 73 mm standard length in both males and females. Fecundity was estimated at 117,600-689,500 eggs per ripe female, and females produce only a single clutch per season (Ha and Kinzie 1996). Tomihama (1972) studied Sicyopterus stimpsoni and found that spawning occurs between August and March, however no fecundity data were given for this species. Today, a number offactors threaten the continued existence of Hawaiian stream species (Timbol and Maciolek 1978; Hathaway 1978; Brasher 2003). As Hawaii became increasingly urbanized, many streams underwent dramatic physical and biological alterations (Maciolek 1977; Hathaway 1978; Way, et al. 1998). A survey done by the US Fish and Wildlife Service between 1975-1976 found that 15% of Hawaii's perennial streams had been channelized and that 53% had water diversions (Timbol and Maciolek 1978). The survey also showed that species diversity and numbers of native stream animals were lower in altered streams than in unaltered streams (Hathaway 1978; Norton et al. 1978), and all streams sampled contained exotic species (Timbol and Maciolek 1978). Study organism Eleotris sandwicensis is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, and is commonly found in the estuaries and lower reaches of mountain streams (Fitzsimons et al2002). It can be found on all the main Hawaiian Islands, and is especially abundant on Oahu (Yamamoto and Tagawa 2000). It is thought that the species is carnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of animal foods including other fishes (including other E. sandwicensis), crustaceans, and aquatic gastropods (Fitzsimons, et al 2002). 2 Amphidromy Eleotris sandwicensis, like the other four native Hawaiian gobioids, is amphidromous (McDowall 1987). Amphidromy is a type of diadromy in which fish migrate between freshwater and marine environments (McDowall 2003). Demersal eggs of E. sandwicensis are oviposited and fertilized in the stream. Newly hatched larvae are swept out to sea, where they develop for up to 160 days in the oceanic plankton before recruiting back to freshwater where they will complete the rest of their life cycle (Radtke et al. 1988; Lindstrom 1999). Ancestors of native Hawaiian gobioids likely colonized Hawaiian streams as larvae of amphidromous species accidentally carried by ocean currents from streams elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific (Watson 1991, 1992; McDowall 2003). Evidence from genetic studies on the four gobiid species does not support the idea of homing to natal streams in any of the species, thus there is no evidence for genetic structuring of discrete island populations (Chubb et al. 1998). Materials and methods Collections Male and female Eleotris sandwicensis were collected from Nuuanu Stream on the island of Oahu. Collections were made at the lower reach of this stream, under the H I freeway overpass. Nuuanu stream is a continuous stream that is modified by having concrete lined channels, alien vegetation, channel realignments,