Journal Article
Food finding ability in several molly species (Poecilia spp.), including the unisexual Amazon molly
Schlupp, I., Lamatsch, D.K., Teege, K. and Parzefall, J.
Record Number:
5248
Year:
2013
Journal:
Bulletin of Fish Biology
Pages:
75-81
Volume:
14
Abstract:
Summary: Unisexual Amazon mollies (Poecilia formosa) and their bisexual host species are remarkably similar
in most aspects of their ecology. Here we studied one aspect of feeding ecology, food fi nding ability, in
several clonal lineages of Amazon mollies (including triploids), two of their hosts and a laboratory produced
F1. We found only minor differences between the studied species and lineages; most notably the triploids
were able to locate food faster than the sexual Poecilia mexicana. Our fi ndings are in agreement with several
other studies all showing that niche overlap in this species complex is very high and likely has to do with
the unusual reproductive mode of Amazon mollies, gynogenesis.
Key words: Ploidy, diversifi cation, unisexuality, feeding ecology, niche overlap
Times Cited:
1
Relevent Species: