Is gynogenetic reproduction in gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) a major trait responsible for invasiveness?

Md Mehedi Hasan Fuad,Lukáš Vetešník,Andrea Šimková

doi:10.25225/jvb.21049

Abstract

The invasion success of gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) depends on demographic and competitive traits. The major biological trait responsible for the invasiveness of C. gibelio is the mode of reproduction. Apart from sexual reproduction, which is typical in fish, C. gibelio is a unique cyprinid species able to reproduce through asexual gynogenesis, which is also known as sperm-dependent parthenogenesis, observed in all-female populations. Though the sexual and asexual forms of C. gibelio co-exist widely in natural habitats, the gynogenetic form has the capacity to modulate the range of effective ecological niches, which may facilitate the process of invasion. In this paper, we reviewed current knowledge of the sexual and gynogenetic forms of gibel carp along with their physiological advantages, immunological traits, and ability to withstand different environmental conditions. As parasitic infection may directly alter the immunology of hosts, and also indirectly alter their investment in reproduction, we provide some insights into the role of parasites as one of the potential drivers facilitating the coexistence of asexual and sexual forms. We highlight evidence that gibel carp have been identified as a serious threat to native species; hence, its impact on the ecosystem is also discussed.

Highlights

Invasive species are non-native to a given ecosystem; they usually negatively affect biodiversity in natural habitats and may even cause economic losses (Xu et al 2006, Beck et al 2008, Xia et al 2019)
The success of invasive species may depend on how ecologically distant they are from native species
A study of gibel carp focused on the variability of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes and parasite load showed that if gynogenetic and sexual forms coexist in a slightly biased ratio, the most common MHC clones of the gynogenetic form suffer from high parasite richness or high intensities of infection by metazoan parasites (Šimková et al 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Invasive species are non-native to a given ecosystem; they usually negatively affect biodiversity in natural habitats and may even cause economic losses (Xu et al 2006, Beck et al 2008, Xia et al 2019). In the Czech Republic the early invasive population of gibel carp was composed of triploid females with gynogenetic reproduction, recognized in natural habitats of the River Dyje until 1995, when the first cases of males were detected. A study of gibel carp focused on the variability of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes (representing functional immune genes in vertebrates) and parasite load showed that if gynogenetic and sexual forms coexist in a slightly biased ratio (gynogenetic females comprising 60% of a population and sexuals comprising 40%), the most common MHC clones of the gynogenetic form suffer from high parasite richness or high intensities of infection by metazoan parasites (mostly by host-specific gill monogeneans of Dactylogyrus) (Šimková et al 2013). The trophic niche width of gibel carp is broader than that of native species in all invaded areas (Özdilek & Jones 2014) This ecological characteristic along with gynogenetic reproduction, dietary plasticity, and environmental stress tolerance make gibel carp a successful invasive species (Lusková et al 2010). Vertebrates in higher trophic levels are typically vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. Özdilek & Jones (2014), using estimates to express the trophic positions of fish species, identified a lower trophic position and slightly lower vulnerability to anthropogenic threats for gibel carp when compared to other members of fish communities, this likely contributing to its invasion success

Conclusions

Findings

Literature