Can sneak spawnings assist species in spreading into new environments?

We are investigating how parasitic spawning through sneaking affects recruitment to the population. We are testing this in the sand goby. The results may be useful for better predicting the spread of invasive species across environments with large differences in salinities.

Start date: 2024-06-01

End date: 2025-05-31

References

Green L, Faust E, Hinchcliffe J, Brijs J, Holmes A, Orn FE, Svensson O, Roques JAC, Leder EH, Sandblom E, Kvarnemo C, 2023. Invader at the edge - Genomic origins and physiological differences of round gobies across a steep urban salinity gradient. Evol Appl 16:321-337. doi: 10.1111/eva.13437.

Green L, Niemax J, Herrmann JP, Temming A, Behrens JW, Havenhand JN, Leder E, Kvarnemo C, 2021. Sperm performance limits the reproduction of an invasive fish in novel salinities. Divers Distrib 27:1091-1105. doi: 10.1111/ddi.13258.

Svensson O, Gräns J, Celander MC, Havenhand J, Leder EH, Lindström K, Schöld S, van Oosterhout C, Kvarnemo C, 2017. Immigrant reproductive dysfunction facilitates ecological speciation. Evolution 71:2510-2521. doi: 10.1111/evo.13323.

Lissåker M, Svensson O, 2008. Cannibalize or care? The role of perceived paternity in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 62:1467-1475. doi: 10.1007/s00265-008-0576-6.

Svensson O, Kvarnemo C, 2007. Parasitic spawning in sand gobies: an experimental assessment of nest-opening size, sneaker male cues, paternity, and filial cannibalism. Behav Ecol 18:410-419. doi: 10.1093/beheco/arl098.