Syngnathus leptorhynchus

Submitted by Sarah_Alvarado 19 Nov

Scientific name: Syngnathus leptorhynchus

Overview:

Syngnathus leptorhynchus, the bay pipefish, can be found in nearshore eelgrass beds across a broad latitudinal range, with populations found from Bahia Santa Maria, Baja California to Prince William Sound, Alaska (Wilson 2009). S. leptorhynchus has undergone a northern range expansion (Orsi et al. 1991, Wilson 2006). A defining characteristic of bay pipefish’s family (Syngnathidae) is their high degree of paternal parental care, as the males have developed specialized brood pouches for the incubation of eggs deposited by females. Fathers undergo a labor-intensive pregnancy, supporting the embryos until they are released as free-living juveniles (Vincent et al. 1992, Wilson et al. 2003). Bay pipefish reach sexual maturity in a relatively quick period of 60-80 days. Depending on their geographical location, populations of pipefish can reproduce year round (southern populations) or the reproductive season can be limited to only a brief period of two months (Fritzsche 1980, Wilson 2009). They consume small planktonic prey, such as mysid shrimp (Van Wassenberg et al. 2008).

References:

Fritzsche, R.A. 1980. Revision of the eastern Pacific Syngnathidae (Pisces: Syngnathiformes), including both recent and fossil forms. Processings of the California Academy of Sciences, USA, 42: 181-227.

Orsi, J.A., R.K. Gish, B.L. Wing. 1991. Northern range extensions of four nearshore marine fishes in Alaska. Canadian Field-Naturalist, 105: 82-86.

Van Wassenbergh, Sam, J. A. Strother, B. E. Flammang, L. A. Ferry-Graham, and P. Aerts. 2008. Extremely Fast Prey Capture in Pipefish Is Powered by Elastic Recoil. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 5: 285-96.

Vincent, A., I. Ahnsejo, A. Berglund, and G. Rosenqvist. 1992. Pipefishes and seahorses: Are they all sex role reversed? Trends Ecology and Evolution, 7: 237-241.

Wilson, Anthony B., I. Ahnesjö, A. C. J. Vincent, and A. Meyer. 2003. The Dynamics Of Male Brooding, Mating Patterns, And Sex Roles In Pipefishes And Seahorses (Family Syngnathidae). Evolution, 57: 1374-386.

Wilson, A. B. 2006. Interspecies mating in sympatric species of Syngnathus pipefish. Molecular Ecology, 15: 809–824.

Wilson, A. B. 2009. Fecundity selection predicts Bergmann's rule in syngnathid fishes. Molecular Ecology, 18: 1263–1272.

Molecular biology and genetics

Genetics:

The Syngnathus leptorhynchus species is found along the Pacific coast ranging from Bahia Santa Maria, Baja California to Prince William Sound, Alaska. Due to this large range of distribution of S. leptorhynchus, scientists are debating whether there is a single species of bay pipefish or several subspecies (Wilson 2006). Genetic evidence suggests that the southern population of S. leptorhynchus has been separated from the northern populations for a significant period of time, although there is not enough evidence to conclude that the California population is a genetically distinct species from the populations found in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon (Herald 1941, Wilson 2006).

References:

Herald E.S. 1941. A systematic analysis of variation in the western American pipefish, Syngnathus californiensis. Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin, 2: 49–73.

Wilson, A. B. 2006. Genetic signature of recent glaciation on populations of a near-shore marine fish species (Syngnathus leptorhynchus). Molecular Ecology, 15: 1857–1871.

Morphology

Morphology:

Syngnathus leptorhynchus, bay pipefish, has a distinguishing elongated snout and four-bar linkage morphology that facilitates prey capture. The bay pipefish has an elongated snout composed of neurocranial and suspensorial components. Their extended snout also relates to increased prey capture speed (Flammang et al. 2009). Another important factor to their prey capture speed is elastic recoil, which is associated with moving the pipefish’s mouth near its prey (Van Wassenbergh et al. 2008).

References:

Flammang, BE, Ferry-Graham LA, Rinewalt C, Ardizzone D, Davis C, Trejo T. 2009. Prey capture kinematics and four-bar linkages in the bay pipefish, Syngnathus leptorhynchus. Zoology, 112:86-96.

Van Wassenbergh, Sam, James A. Strother, Brooke E. Flammang, Lara A. Ferry-Graham, and Peter Aerts. 2008. Extremely Fast Prey Capture in Pipefish Is Powered by Elastic Recoil. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 112: 285-96.

Reproduction and life history

Reproduction:

Bay pipefish, Syngnathus leporhychus, are a polygamous species characterized by a high degree of male uniparental care. Like other members of the Syngnathidae family, male bay pipefish are assured to be the father of the embryos they care for, as fertilization takes place within their pouch (Ahnesjo 1992, Foster and Vincent 2004, Wilson 2006). S. leptorhynchus become sexually mature at 60-80 days (Fritzsche 1980, Wilson 2009), with reproductive activity overall higher during summer months (Fritzsche 1980, Wilson 2006). However, this activity varies in populations depending on their geographical location; southern populations have been found to reproduce often throughout the year, while some northern populations reproduce in a period of two months. It is possible that within one year, male bay pipefish found in California are able to raise as many as 12 broods (Fritzsche 1980, Wilson 2009). Female S. leptorhynchus in northern populations may participate in “bet-hedging”, where they mate with and distribute their eggs across multiple males since in a harsh environment the chances are lower that the offspring from each male will survive (Wilson 2009).

References:

Ahnsejo, I. 1995. Temperature affects male and female potential reproductive rates differently in the sex-role reversed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle. Behavioral Ecology, 6: 229-233.

Foster, S.J., Vincent, A.C.J. 2004. Life history and ecology of seahorses: implications for conservation and management. Journal of Fish Biology, 65: 1-61.

Wilson, A. B. 2006. Interspecies mating in sympatric species of Syngnathus pipefish. Molecular Ecology, 15: 809–824.

Wilson, A. B. 2009. Fecundity selection predicts Bergmann's rule in syngnathid fishes. Molecular Ecology, 18: 1263–1272.

References

References:

Ahnsejo, I. 1995. Temperature affects male and female potential reproductive rates differently in the sex-role reversed pipefish, Syngnathus typhle. Behavioral Ecology, 6: 229-233.

Flammang, B.E., Ferry-Graham L.A., Rinewalt C., Ardizzone D., Davis C., Trejo T. 2009. Prey capture kinematics and four-bar linkages in the bay pipefish, Syngnathus leptorhynchus. Zoology, 112:86-96.

Foster, S.J., Vincent, A.C.J. 2004. Life history and ecology of seahorses: implications for conservation and management. Journal of Fish Biology, 65: 1-61.

Herald E.S. 1941. A systematic analysis of variation in the western American pipefish, Syngnathus californiensis. Stanford IchthyologicalBulletin, 2: 49–73.

Orsi, J.A., R.K. Gish, B.L. Wing. 1991. Northern range extensions of four nearshore marine fishes in Alaska. Canadian Field-Naturalist, 105: 82-86.

Vincent, A., I. Ahnsejo, A. Berglund, and G. Rosenqvist. 1992. Pipefishes and seahorses: Are they all sex role reversed? Trends Ecology and Evolution, 7: 237-241.

Wilson, A. B. 2006. Genetic signature of recent glaciation on populations of a near-shore marine fish species (Syngnathus leptorhynchus). Molecular Ecology, 15: 1857–1871.

Wilson, A. B. 2006. Interspecies mating in sympatric species of Syngnathus pipefish.Molecular Ecology, 15: 809–824.

Wilson, A. B. 2009. Fecundity selection predicts Bergmann's rule in syngnathid fishes. Molecular Ecology, 18: 1263–1272.

Attribution

Rights holder: Sarah Alvarado, Marlena Lu, Morgan Winston

Author(s): Sarah Alvarado

Author(s): Marlena Lu

Author(s): Morgan Winston

Editor(s): J. T. Claisse

Groups:

Biology 260 Occidental College - Biodiversity & Organization of Marine Ecosystems

Syngnathus leptorhynchus

Groups:

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