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Dr. Tahamont
23 April 2010
Abstract: Alaskan freshwater sticklebacks are among the youngest species known
to exist, having a short evolutionary time span of 22,000 years. This allows
Additionally, many differences have been found between the freshwater stickleback
and marine species from which they have evolved (Pennisi, 2000). Therefore,
measurements were taken including the pelvic girdle expression, lateral plates, and
body depth sizes. Upon completion, a note was made of any immediate differences
observed. A further comparison of our data with that of our colleagues and
previously data from research performed by Dr. Travis of Rowan University (Travis,
2008) were made. The purpose of our research was to formulate a question and
evolution.
2 |Mitchell, J.L.
hypothesized that increased ammonia levels result in larger body depths. After
tolerance of ammonia and large body size in another species of fish. Therefore, I
rejected the null hypothesis that ammonia concentrations have no effect on body
levels were used to compare three populations of G. aculeatus from lakes Jim, Long,
and Bear Paw (Fig. 1). Ammonia concentrations were highest in Jim Lake and
lowest in Long Lake (Fig. 1). It was found that the largest body depths of G.
this indicated the possibility of a relationship between large body depth size and
concentrations would exhibit a larger body depth to that of populations in lakes with
accepted the null hypothesis stating that, high ammonia concentrations have no
Methods and Materials: The experimental protocol followed the lab design
created by Dr. Mathew Travis (2008), titled Natural Selection and Interpopulation
different Alaskan lake populations were examined. The samples were pre-stained
with Alizarin red, which binds to the bone to permit easier observation and
The body depth was measured starting from the first dorsal spine and
proximal to the pelvic spine. A dial caliper was used to obtain these measurements.
Next, the lateral plates located on the side of the body and just behind the head
were counted. Lastly, the pelvic girdle expression was observed. The measurement
used to identify the pelvic girdle expression is called the pelvic score. This is a
categorical reference used to measure the size, as well as complexity of the pelvic
was prepared that included data collected by our colleagues. A thorough analysis
and comparison of the compiled results was made with the lake data (Bell, 2004)
provided by Dr. Travis. Any patterns observed between lake characteristics and
averaged results of our data were documented. Research was executed using
Figure 1.
Results: The average body depth sizes in three populations of G. aculeatus were
The three lakes examined included Long Lake, Bear Paw Lake, and Jim Lake. Jim
Lake displays the largest body depth size of 10.33(mm), in addition to the highest
ammonia level of 20.9 (ppm). The lowest ammonia concentration being 4.0 (ppm)
was found in Long Lake, which possess a population of G. aculeatus with the
smallest body depths averaging 7.59 (mm) in comparison with the two other lakes
examined. Bear Paw displayed intermediate results in both average body depth
6 |Mitchell, J.L.
and ammonia concentration, however, was similar to results found in Long Lake.
The average body depth of Bear Paw was 7.89(mm), while the average ammonia
larger body depths. After looking into the diet of G. aculeatus, we found that
showed that biomass of plankton was the determinant in preference. With few
exceptions, plankton species with the largest biomasses had the highest
stickleback are found to be significantly larger in size than limnetic feeders (Nagel
and Schluter, 1998). Stickleback from Jim Lake, are perhaps, benthic feeders, which
could explain the possession of a larger body depth as compared to Bear Paw and
Long Lake. In addition, benthic fish are often found in bodies of water with low
elevations, such as Jim Lake. However, this is not enough evidence to contribute
high ammonia concentration to the large body depth sizes observed in Jim Lake.
Research done regarding ammonia toxicity and its effect on the growth of the
South African abalone Haliotis midae Linnaeus, showed that tolerance of high
2006). This may provide evidence that natural selection occurred in the high
ammonia environment of Jim Lake. The stickleback fish with larger body depths
may have been favored due to a higher tolerance, and therefore, had better
alternate hypothesis that high ammonia concentrations result in larger body depths
aided my lab partner, Michelle Moormann and I in our investigation and lab report
construction.
8 |Mitchell, J.L.
Works Cited
157: 169-177.
Reddy-Lopata, K., Averswald, L., Cook, P. 2006. Ammonia toxicity and its effects on
678-687.
Romo, S., Villena, M.J. 2003. Phytoplankton strategies and diversity under different
Bibliography
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