Abstract
The duration of the ammocoete life stage in Pacific lamprey (Entosphenus tridentatus) is not well understood, particularly in southern latitudes, hampering the development of conservation strategies. We studied the development of anadromous Pacific lamprey from hatchling to transformation into macrophthalmia near the southern extent of their range. Lampreys were absent from San Luis Obispo drainage in Southern California for over 6 years, but the drainage was naturally recolonized, with ammocoetes first detected again in 2017. This provided an opportunity to examine in-river growth and development using repeated sampling. We estimated ammocoetes transformed into macrophthalmia in as little as 2.6 years, one of the shortest larval durations documented for the species and at least half that assumed in studies of other wild populations. This is the first estimate of time-to-transformation for Pacific lamprey in its southern range and provides insights into adaptive strategies and refinement of recovery approaches for lamprey species worldwide.
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Acknowledgements
We extend our thanks to F. Otte (City of San Luis Obispo); D. Highland, D. Michniuk, and D. Baldwin (California Department of Fish and Wildlife); P. Kalan (California Polytechnic State University); the San Luis Obispo Land Conservancy—all active members of the Central Coastal California Lamprey Working Group—as well as members of the California Conservation Corps who have assisted in adult and larval surveys. This manuscript benefitted from the thoughtful review of four anonymous reviewers. The findings and conclusions in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Reference to trade names does not imply endorsement by the US Government.
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Funding for this effort and other lamprey conservation efforts in California was provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Sampling efforts were carried out according to the Guidelines for the Use of Fishes in Research published in 2014 by the joint committee of the American Fisheries Society, the American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists, and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.
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Goodman, D.H., Reid, S.B. Rapid development of larval Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus in southern populations provides adaptive benefits for uncertain flow regimes. Environ Biol Fish 105, 403–411 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-022-01236-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-022-01236-6