Temperature preferences of three sympatric sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We determined the temperature preferences of three sympatric species of sticklebacks in the laboratory to see if differences in preferences could explain variation in times of reproductive migration to and from salt marsh tide pools along the southern shore of the St. Lawrence estuary, Quebec. The preferred temperatures were 9–12 °C for Gasterosteus aculeatus (form trachurus) and 11–14 °C for G. wheatlandi, while Pungitius pungitius showed a bimodal preference of 9–10 °C and 15–16 °C. In the field, G. aculeatus and G. wheatlandi left the tide pools earlier in the season than P. pungitius. Our results suggest that temperature preference may play a role in habitat partitioning among these species, hence facilitating their coexistence at high densities in the pools.