JOURNAL ARTICLE

Increased eye size is favoured in Trinidadian killifish experimentally transplanted into low light, high competition environments.

  • Published In: Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 2024, v. 37, n. 8. P. 960 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Tran, Stephanie M; Howell, Kaitlyn J; Walsh, Matthew R 3 of 3

Abstract

This article investigates how relative eye size influences fitness in Trinidadian killifish (Anablepsoides hartii) when transplanted from high-predation (HP) to low-light, high-competition, predator-free (killifish-only, KO) stream environments. Using transplant experiments in natural streams, the study found that HP fish with larger relative eye and pupil sizes exhibited higher individual growth rates—a proxy for fitness—in KO sites, whereas resident KO fish showed no such positive relationship. These results provide experimental evidence that larger eyes are favored by natural selection in low-light, high-competition habitats, likely due to enhanced foraging ability. The findings align with previous work showing similar selection on brain size, suggesting coordinated evolution of sensory and neural traits in response to ecological conditions.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 2024/08, Vol. 37, Issue 8, p960
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Anatomy and Physiology
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:1010-061X
  • DOI:10.1093/jeb/voae063
  • Accession Number:180425127
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Evolutionary Biology is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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