Biology & Sustainability
Substrate Preferences of Nesting Lepomis Megalotis, the Longear Sunfish
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Location
Indianapolis, IN
Subject Area
Biology & Sustainability
Start Date
11-4-2014 11:00 AM
End Date
11-4-2014 11:45 AM
Sponsor
Shelley Etnier (Butler University)
Description
Male longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), familyCentrarchidae, establish their nests in shallow waterways during the spring and early summer months. While there has been extensive research on centrarchids and their reproductive behaviors, the construction of their nests has received less attention. There is little to no information available on the substrate selection process of thethelongear sunfish (and other sunfish as well) or the specific composition of their nests. This particular study aims to describe the composition of the nests of longear sunfish and determine whether or not there is an active selection process by which these fish choose the materials or locations for their nests. By sampling and comparing the sediment profiles of nests of the longear sunfish with general areas of the Central Canal Towpath, where the longear sunfish is known to nest annually, this study investigates whether the nests are distributed randomly or are found in areas with a specific substrate profile. Preliminary analysis of our results shows that certain substrates (most notably those classified in this study as "pebbles") are more abundant in nests and nesting areas of the canal, suggesting that the nesting males have preferences for areas of the canal that have these substrates present in higher proportions. Our abbreviated behavioral study was also consistent with this preference for pebbles. These preliminary results are consistent with the idea that fish appear to prefer nesting in areas of the canal with a specific sediment profile. We hope that the methodology used in this study and the information gathered will allow for future studies to further investigate this question of sediment preference among the longear sunfish.
Substrate Preferences of Nesting Lepomis Megalotis, the Longear Sunfish
Indianapolis, IN
Male longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis), familyCentrarchidae, establish their nests in shallow waterways during the spring and early summer months. While there has been extensive research on centrarchids and their reproductive behaviors, the construction of their nests has received less attention. There is little to no information available on the substrate selection process of thethelongear sunfish (and other sunfish as well) or the specific composition of their nests. This particular study aims to describe the composition of the nests of longear sunfish and determine whether or not there is an active selection process by which these fish choose the materials or locations for their nests. By sampling and comparing the sediment profiles of nests of the longear sunfish with general areas of the Central Canal Towpath, where the longear sunfish is known to nest annually, this study investigates whether the nests are distributed randomly or are found in areas with a specific substrate profile. Preliminary analysis of our results shows that certain substrates (most notably those classified in this study as "pebbles") are more abundant in nests and nesting areas of the canal, suggesting that the nesting males have preferences for areas of the canal that have these substrates present in higher proportions. Our abbreviated behavioral study was also consistent with this preference for pebbles. These preliminary results are consistent with the idea that fish appear to prefer nesting in areas of the canal with a specific sediment profile. We hope that the methodology used in this study and the information gathered will allow for future studies to further investigate this question of sediment preference among the longear sunfish.