Sexuality in Fishes
T.J. Pandian: Visiting Professor, CAS Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India
ISBN 978-1-57808-685-6; June 2010; ca.190 pages, hc; US $ 89.95
About the Book
This book is a synthesis of relevant and recent information on sexuality of fishes and points towards new directions of desired research. An array of male genotypes of fishes may indeed pose a challenge to molecular biologists searching for the sex determining gene(s) in the vertebrate system. The unprecedented level of diversity recorded among the clones of self-fertilizing gynogenetic unisexuals and self-fertilizing simultaneous hermaphrodites challenges current ideas on the predominant role of recombination in promoting evolution of biological diversity. Though limited only to a few species, the existence of self-fertilizing and cyclical sex changing hermaphrodites is a puzzle to many but provocative to geneticists and endocrinologists. Within a few days following the removal of a harem master or mistress, a successor changes sex and takes over the harem; the causes for the sex changing mechanism pose many challenges to socio-ecologists and behaviour specialists.
Contents
• Introduction—
Life span and sexual maturity;
Spawning process;
Fecundity;
Egg size;
Sperm count and sperm cells;
Breeding sites;
Breeding times;
Breeding systems
• Sexual pattern
• Intersexuality
• Gonochorism—
Gonadal differentiation;
Morphotypes;
Sex ratio;
Operational sex ratio
• Unisexualism—
Hybridization;
Polyploidization;
Poecilia formosa; Menidia clarkhubbsi;
Carassius auratus; Cobitis complex;
Poeciliopsis monacha—lucida; Phoxinus eos. neogaeus; Rutilus alburnoides
• Simultaneous hermaphroditism—
Self-fertilizing hermaphrodites;
Egg trading hermaphrodites;
Potential self-fertilizers
• Sequential hermaphroditism
• Protogynous hermaphroditism—
Transition load;
Classification;
Pathways and duration of sex change;
Sex ratio
• Protandric hermaphroditism—
Gonadal organization;
Sex ratio; Pathways of sex change
• Serial hermaphroditism—
Marian hermaphroditism;
Okinawan hermaphroditism;
Serial sex change;
Cascade and causes of sex change
• Mating systems—
Monogamy;
Alternate mating strategies; Morphism;
Lekking and promiscuity; Parental care
• References •
Author index • Species index • Subject index
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