Centrarchidae

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This article is about the North American freshwater fish family. For other fish known as "sunfish", see Sunfish (disambiguation).

Sunfishes
Temporal range: Late Eocene to Recent
Centrarchus macropterus (1).jpg
Flier (Centrarchus macropterus)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Superfamily: Percoidea
Family: Centrarchidae
Bleeker, 1859
Genera

See text

Centrarchidae Native Range.jpg
Centrarchidae native range

Centrarchidae (better known as sunfish) are a family of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the order Perciformes. The type genus is Centrarchus (consisting solely of the flier, C. macropterus). The centrarchid family comprises 38 species of fish,[1] 34 of which are extant (currently living)[2] and includes many fish familiar to North Americans, including the rock bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and crappies. All species in the family are native to only North America.

There are eight genera included within Centrarchidae: Lepomis (Sunfishes), Micropterus (Black basses), Pomoxis (Crappie), Enneacanthus (Banded sunfishes), Centrarchus (Flier), Archoplites (Sacramento perch), Ambloplites (Rock basses), and Acantharchus (Mud sunfish).[1]

Most sunfish are valued for sport fishing, and have been introduced in many areas outside their original ranges, sometimes becoming invasive species. While edible, they are not commercially marketed as a food fish.

Description[edit]

Family members are distinguished by having a laterally compressed body shape, 3 to 8 anal spines, and 2 dorsal fins (spinous first dorsal and rayed second dorsal) which are fused;[3] the number of dorsal spines varies from 6 to 13. All species in Micropterus and Lepomis have 3 anal spines, which distinguishes them from the other genera in the family;[3] the pseudobranch is small and concealed. Body size varies widely within the family with the black-banded sunfish at just 8 cm (3.1 in) in length, while the largemouth bass is reported to reach almost 1 m (3.3 ft) in extreme cases.[4]

Many of the species within Centrarchidae can be separated into two main groups based on the two most common genera (Micropterus and Lepomis). Species in the genera Lepomis are defined by a deep or more round body shape, smaller mouths, and obtaining food through suction feeding.[1][5] Species in the genera Micropterus are defined by a more streamlined body shape, larger mouths, and consuming prey primarily by ram feeding methods.[1][5]

Habitat[edit]

smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Centrarchids prefer clear, warm, and slower-moving water, and are commonly found in habitats such as lakes, ponds, medium to low flow streams and rivers, and swamps,[6] they also prefer to live in and around aquatic vegetation so they can get adequate coverage from predators. While few species in the family diverge from the aforementioned habitat list, the Sacramento perch can survive in habitats with unusually high alkalinity, salinity, and temperatures.[6] Centrarchids can be found in various locations within the water column and their exact preference is species specific. For instance, bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) mainly inhabit the deeper littoral zones, while green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) prefer habitats near the shoreline and shallower areas.[7] Suction feeders within the family (i.e. Lepomis) generally feed off the bottom of their habitat, while ram feeders (i.e. Micropterus) generally feed in more open areas known as the limnetic zone.[8] Centrarchids diet consists of macro-invertebrates (e.g. insects, snails and crayfish) and other fish found in their habitat.[6]

Thermal Tolerance[edit]

In freshwater systems, water temperature is determined by many abiotic factors, with air temperature being one of the most significant contributors;[9] as in other ectotherms, many physiological processes and behaviors in Centrarchidae, such as feeding and reproduction, are heavily impacted by the temperature in their environment.[10] All species in the family Centrarchidae are considered warmwater adapted species.[11] In general, warmwater adapted species are characterized as being larger at higher temperatures and lower latitudes;[12] the optimal temperature range of most species in the family is 28oC(82oF) to 32oC(90oF), although they can survive and reproduce in temperatures that are outside of this optimum range.[5] Increases in temperature outside the optimal range for centrarchids can have negative effects, such as speeding up reproductive maturity or increasing mortality after the first reproductive event;[13] the lethal temperature range varies widely in the family, but some species have been seen to survive water temperatures as low as 1.7oC(35oF) or as high as 41oC(106oF).[14]

Reproduction[edit]

Centrarchids generally spawn in the spring, and juveniles emerge in the late spring to early summer;[15] the transition from winter to spring conditions (i.e. melting of ice-cover, increase in day length, and increased food availability) is the main cue for centrarchids to begin preparing for reproduction.[10] All species within Centrarchidae, except for those in the genus Micropterus, develop breeding coloration in both males and females (although less defined in females) during the breeding season;[1] the process of courtship and reproduction is nearly identical for all species in the family, which is a major reason for the high levels of hybridization within Centrarchidae.[16] With that said, there are some mechanisms in place to prevent hybridization, such as intricate morphology of the operculum in Lepomis, which assists in recognition of conspecific mates.[1]

To initiate reproduction, males dig a deep circular depression in the substrate with their caudal fins to create a nest,[6] which they will aggressively defend from intruding males.[1] Males and females then undergo a courtship dancing ritual before the female deposits her eggs into the male's nest.[6] Multiple females may deposit eggs in a single nest.[5] Larger males usually attract more mates and also take better care of their offspring.[17] Male parental care includes nest building, nest guarding, guarding of eggs and fry, and nest fanning (aerating eggs).[18]

Males unsuccessful at courtship may exhibit a cheater strategy where they sneak fertilizations of female's eggs by various behavioral methods;[19] this is commonly seen with smaller males in the genus Lepomis.[3]

Range[edit]

Centrarchidae Native Range

The native range of Centrarchidae is confined within North America, covering most of the United States and stopping in southern Canada; the northern edge of the native range is heavily bound by temperature due to reduced foraging ability and growth in cold weather and subsequent starvation in winter months.[5][20] As a result, centrarchid distributions and range in any place they are found will be restricted by cold temperatures.[5]

Range Shifts[edit]

The ability to adapt to cold temperatures at the edge of the sunfish range varies widely within the family. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) have no cold acclimation ability as seen through the strict maintenance of the northern boundary of the species range.[21] Other species like smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) and green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) have exhibited signs of minor cold-water adaptation and have even experienced slight range expansions into colder habitats.[21]

If air temperatures continue to rise in the next 50 to 100 years as predicted,[22] warmwater species like centrarchids will likely experience range expansions northward and see an overall increase in occupiable habitat;[23][9] this range expansion can have grave consequences for other freshwater fishes however, as many centrarchids are dominant top predators which can severely alter the community structure of non-native ecosystems and drive the extinction of other native predators.[24]

Invasive Range[edit]

While centrarchids are native to only North America, they can be found worldwide due to introductions within multiple continents including Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia.[6] At least 18 species of Centrarchidae are North American exports,[5] its multi-continental spread is mostly due to the high popularity of the family (especially from the genera Micropterus) as freshwater game fish that are frequently stocked for recreational fishing all around Europe.[5][6]

Across the globe, invasive and introduced centrarchids pose a great threat to native species in the areas they invade.[5][25] There are multiple confirmed instances of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) severely altering and reducing native fish populations in Italy, South Africa, Japan, and Madagascar and even causing the local extinction of any species of the family Cyprinodontidae within the waterbodies they have invaded in Mexico.[5]

Fossil record[edit]

The earliest fossils of Centrarchidae are from latest Eocene to early Oligocene deposits from Montana and South Dakota, belonging to several as yet undescribed species and the two extinct genera †Plioplarchus and †Boreocentrarchus. Both Plioplarchus and Boreocentrarchus are classified in the subfamily Centrarchinae, because these species possess more than three anal fin spines.[26]

Classification[edit]

Recent genetic evidence suggests the following taxonomy of the centrarchid genera and species:[27][28]


Centrarchidae
 

Acantharchus pomotis

 
 
Centrarchinae
 
Centrarchus

Centrarchus macropterus

 
 
 
Enneacanthus
 
 

Enneacanthus chaetodon

 
 
 

Enneacanthus gloriosus

 
 

Enneacanthus obesus

 
 
 
 
Tribe Archoplitini
Pomoxis
 

Pomoxis annularis

 
 

Pomoxis nigromaculatus

 
 
 
Archoplites
 

Archoplites interruptus

 
 
Ambloplites
 
 

Ambloplites ariommus

 
 

Ambloplites rupestris

 
 
 
 

Ambloplites cavifrons

 
 

Ambloplites constellatus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lepominae
Micropterus
 
 

Micropterus dolomieu

 
 

Micropterus punctulatus

 
 
 
 

Micropterus cataractae

 
 
 

Micropterus coosae

 
 
 

Micropterus notius

 
 
 

Micropterus treculi

 
 
 

Micropterus salmoides

 
 

Micropterus floridanus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lepomis
 
 
 

Lepomis humilis

 
 

Lepomis macrochirus

 
 
 
 
 

Lepomis gulosus

 
 
 
 

Lepomis symmetricus

 
 

Lepomis cyanellus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Lepomis auritus

 
 
 

Lepomis marginatus

 
 
 

Lepomis peltastes

 
 

Lepomis megalotis

 
 
 
 
 
 

Lepomis gibbosus

 
 
 

Lepomis microlophus

 
 
 

Lepomis punctatus

 
 

Lepomis miniatus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Andrew J.; Nelson-Maney, Nathan; Parsons, Kevin J.; Cooper, W. James; Albertson, R. Craig (2015-09-01). "Body Shape Evolution in Sunfishes: Divergent Paths to Accelerated Rates of Speciation in the Centrarchidae". Evolutionary Biology. 42 (3): 283–295. doi:10.1007/s11692-015-9322-y. ISSN 0071-3260.
  2. ^ Near, Thomas J.; Kassler, Todd W.; Koppelman, Jeffrey B.; Dillman, Casey B.; Philipp, David P.; Orti, G. (2003-07-01). "Speciation in North American black basses, micropterus (actinopterygii: centrarchidae)". Evolution. 57 (7): 1610–1621. doi:10.1554/02-295. ISSN 0014-3820.
  3. ^ a b c Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M. (2011). Peterson field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico (2nd ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780547242064. OCLC 651912235.
  4. ^ Johnson, G.D.; Gill, A.C. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. p. 187. ISBN 978-0-12-547665-2.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Soes, Menno; Cooke, Steven; van Kleef, H.H.; Broeckx, P.B.; Veenvliet, P. (March 21, 2010). "A risk analysis of sunfishes (Centrarchidae) and pygmy sunfishes (Elassomatidae) in the Netherlands". Bureau of Waardenburg bv. pp. 1–110. Report nr 11-042 – via ResearchGate.
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  8. ^ Carroll, Andrew M.; Wainwright, Peter C.; Huskey, Stephen H.; Collar, David C.; Turingan, Ralph G. (2004-10-15). "Morphology predicts suction feeding performance in centrarchid fishes". Journal of Experimental Biology. 207 (22): 3873–3881. doi:10.1242/jeb.01227. ISSN 0022-0949. PMID 15472018.
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  14. ^ Beitinger, Thomas L.; Bennett, Wayne A.; McCauley, Robert W. (2000-07-01). "Temperature Tolerances of North American Freshwater Fishes Exposed to Dynamic Changes in Temperature". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 58 (3): 237–275. doi:10.1023/A:1007676325825. ISSN 0378-1909.
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  16. ^ Jennings, Martin J.; Philipp, David P.; Montgomery, W. L. (2002-12-01). "Alternative Mating Tactics in Sunfishes (Centrarchidae): A Mechanism for Hybridization?". Copeia. 2002 (4): 1102–1105. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002[1102:amtisc]2.0.co;2. ISSN 0045-8511.
  17. ^ Danylchuk, Andy J.; Fox, Michael G. (1996-10-01). "Size- and age-related variation in the seasonal timing of nesting activity, nest characteristics, and female choice of parental male pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus)". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 74 (10): 1834–1840. doi:10.1139/z96-206. ISSN 0008-4301.
  18. ^ Blumer, Lawrence S. (1982-05-01). "A bibliography and categorization of bony fishes exhibiting parental care". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 75 (1): 1–22. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1982.tb01939.x. ISSN 0024-4082.
  19. ^ Gross, Mart R.; Charnov, Eric L. (1980-11-01). "Alternative male life histories in bluegill sunfish". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 77 (11): 6937–6940. doi:10.1073/pnas.77.11.6937. PMC 350407.
  20. ^ Alofs, Karen M.; Jackson, Donald A.; Lester, Nigel P. (2014-02-01). "Ontario freshwater fishes demonstrate differing range-boundary shifts in a warming climate". Diversity and Distributions. 20 (2): 123–136. doi:10.1111/ddi.12130. ISSN 1472-4642.
  21. ^ a b Tschantz, Deidra R.; Crockett, Elizabeth L.; Niewiarowski, Peter H.; Londraville, Richard L. (2002-11-01). "Cold Acclimation Strategy Is Highly Variable among the Sunfishes (Centrarchidae)". Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 75 (6): 544–556. doi:10.1086/344492. ISSN 1522-2152. PMID 12601611.
  22. ^ IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/
  23. ^ COMTE, LISE; BUISSON, LAËTITIA; DAUFRESNE, MARTIN; GRENOUILLET, GAËL (2013-04-01). "Climate-induced changes in the distribution of freshwater fish: observed and predicted trends" (PDF). Freshwater Biology. 58 (4): 625–639. doi:10.1111/fwb.12081. ISSN 1365-2427.
  24. ^ Near, T. J.; Koppelman, J. B. (2009). "Species Diversity, Phylogeny and Phylogeography of Centrarchidae". Centrarchid Fishes. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 1–38. doi:10.1002/9781444316032.ch1. ISBN 9781444316032.
  25. ^ Sterud, Erik (2006). "Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Centrarchidae) and associated parasites introduced to Norway". Aquatic Invasions. 1 (4): 278–280. doi:10.3391/ai.2006.1.4.10.
  26. ^ S. J. Cooke; D. P. Philipp (2009). Centrarchid fishes: diversity, biology, and conservation. Blackwell Publishing Ltd. pp. 1–38.
  27. ^ Roe, Kevin J.; Harris, Phillip M.; Mayden, Richard L. (2002). "Phylogenetic relationships of the genera of North American sunfishes and basses (Percoidei: Centrarchidae) as evidenced by the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene" (PDF). Copeia. 2002 (4): 897–905. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2002)002[0897:protgo]2.0.co;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-14.
  28. ^ Near, T. J.; D. I. Bolnick & P. C. Wainwright (2005). "Fossil calibrations and molecular divergence time estimates in centrarchid fishes (Teleostei: Centrarchidae)". Evolution. 59 (8): 1768–1782. doi:10.1111/j.0014-3820.2005.tb01825.x.

External links[edit]

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