Nest site selection by the fourspine stickleback, Apeltes quadracus (Mitchill)

Abstract

The fourspine stickleback, Apeltes quadracus (Mitchill), is commonly associated with aquatic vegetation on its intertidal breeding grounds, and male Apeltes build nests in the vegetation. We hypothesized that vegetation morphology is a proximate cue in Apeltes nest site selection, and that males nesting in preferred vegetation types are more successful than others in attracting females and acquiring clutches of eggs. In a laboratory experiment, one common vegetation type was rejected as a nest attachment site, but no clear preference was demonstrated among three other common and morphologically distinct types. Nests collected from these four vegetation types in the field showed that males nesting in the less preferred type had acquired fewer clutches and fewer eggs than males nesting in two of the other three types. There were no significant differences in the mean numbers of clutches or eggs acquired by males nesting in these other three types. We suggest that within fairly broad limits Apeltes is a generalist in nest site selection, and that a short breeding season in the highly variable intertidal environment may put a premium on temporal features of breeding rather than on nest location.