Category
Theoretical Proposal
Description
Aquatic ecosystems promote variable microhabitats which in turn support dynamic biotic assemblages. One such microhabitat involves gastropod shells and the dependence on these microhabitats for breeding success in shell-dwelling cichlids native to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Once a microhabitat is selected by a male-female pair, both parents will care for the nest and eggs until the young are developed enough to leave the shell. This research aims to quantify how parental division of care influences offspring quality and developmental timing in the shell-dwelling cichlid Neolamprologus similis. Mating pairs of N. similis will be introduced to study tanks to assess shell selection, mating success, male-female brood care division, brood size, and larval development. Parental roles and the duration of care provided by each individual will be systematically recorded at specific intervals throughout the day. Data will be analyzed using generalized linear models for hatching/survival rates and time-to-event analyses for developmental timing. Insights from this work will inform conservation strategies for shell-dependent fishes and clarify the ecological consequences of parental workload partitioning within the species.
Microhabitat usage and symbiotic dynamics of a shell-dwelling cichlid (Neolamprologus similis)
Theoretical Proposal
Aquatic ecosystems promote variable microhabitats which in turn support dynamic biotic assemblages. One such microhabitat involves gastropod shells and the dependence on these microhabitats for breeding success in shell-dwelling cichlids native to Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. Once a microhabitat is selected by a male-female pair, both parents will care for the nest and eggs until the young are developed enough to leave the shell. This research aims to quantify how parental division of care influences offspring quality and developmental timing in the shell-dwelling cichlid Neolamprologus similis. Mating pairs of N. similis will be introduced to study tanks to assess shell selection, mating success, male-female brood care division, brood size, and larval development. Parental roles and the duration of care provided by each individual will be systematically recorded at specific intervals throughout the day. Data will be analyzed using generalized linear models for hatching/survival rates and time-to-event analyses for developmental timing. Insights from this work will inform conservation strategies for shell-dependent fishes and clarify the ecological consequences of parental workload partitioning within the species.
