Evolutionary and ecological constraints of fish spawning habitats

May combine two claims.

To spawn, all tuna species return to tropical or subtropical locations, which are typically oligotrophic and warm.

“However, to spawn, all tuna species return to tropical or subtropical locations, which are typically oligotrophic and warm (Sund et al., 1981;Reglero et al., 2014).”

• cites Sund et al., 1981Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Reglero et al., 2014 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Fish use geographic clues or environmental cues as a guiding compass to reach spawning locations year after year, but they may also learn spawning routes through social facilitation.

“Fish use these geographic clues or environmental cues as a guiding compass to reach spawning locations year after year, but they may also learn spawning routes through social facilitation (Cury, 1994;Corten, 2002).”

• cites Cury, 1994 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Corten, 2002 sourceCould not verify

  No passage from our copy addresses geographic or environmental cues guiding fish to spawning locations, or social learning of spawning routes. Searches for spawning grounds, environmental cues, social learning, and learned migration routes returned no relevant passage; the only returned text was bibliographic metadata listing “Learning” as a keyword. (LLM, conf=0.70)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

Attachment to a specific spawning site is only expressed at the time of spawning, while there is more plasticity and opportunistic behaviour in the choice of other important habitats, such as feeding grounds and, for some species, the juvenile nursery habitat.

“Yet, this remarkable attachment to a specific site is only expressed at the time of spawning, while there seems to be more plasticity and opportunistic behaviour when it comes to the choice of other important habitats, such as feeding grounds and, for some species, the juvenile nursery habitat (Petitgas et al., 2012).”

• cites Petitgas et al., 2012 sourceCould not verify

  Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 0 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 2 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

The migration hypothesis was first developed for marine invertebrates but bears an appealing analogy to fish life histories.

“The hypothesis was first developed for marine invertebrates but it bears an appealing analogy to fish life histories as well (Strathmann et al., 2002).”

• cites Strathmann et al., 2002Partly supported

  In “Hypothesized Functions of Migration” (page unavailable), the paper describes the pelagic larval period as a possible migration away from and back to the bottom and says the same hypotheses apply to larval migration from estuaries and reefs. It also discusses fish larvae elsewhere, supporting the analogy to fish life histories. Our copy does not establish that the hypothesis was first developed for marine invertebrates. (LLM, conf=0.83)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

Two spawning locations for North Atlantic bluefin tuna are in the Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

“Mediterranean Sea and in the Gulf of Mexico (Muhling et al., 2013).”

• cites Muhling et al., 2013 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Fish can navigate thousands of kilometres to reach the exact same site in which they were born (natal homing) or had previously spawned (repeated homing).

“Fish can navigate thousands of kilometres to reach the exact same site in which they were born (natal homing, Cury, 1994;Thorrold et al., 2001) or had previously spawned (repeated homing, Corten, 2002;Skjæraasen et al., 2011).”

• cites Cury, 1994 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Thorrold et al., 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Corten, 2002 sourcePartly supported

  The indexed Abstract (page unavailable) says herring return to the same spawning areas each year, supporting the repeated-homing part attributed to Corten. It does not establish journeys of thousands of kilometres or returns to the exact same site, rather than the same area. (LLM, conf=0.84)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

Factors that contribute to the selection of a spawning location are many and complex, and depend on constraints that affect fish throughout their entire life cycle, not only the larval stage.

“Thus, factors that contribute to the selection of a spawning location are many and complex, and depend on constraints that affect fish throughout their entire life cycle, not only the larval stage (Claydon, 2004;McNamara and Houston, 2008).”

• cites Claydon, 2004Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites McNamara and Houston, 2008 sourcePartly supported

  The “Timing of breeding” section describes breeding decisions as depending on several ecological and physiological factors, including food for young and the parent’s condition. The “Migratory journey” section also describes effects that carry from one part of the annual cycle into another. These passages support the broader point that reproduction is not determined solely by conditions for young, but they do not address how fish select spawning locations or distinguish larval from other fish life stages. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

All members of the Scombridae family have an exceptionally fast development of the digestive and visual sensory systems, developmental traits that allow them a fast track toward piscivory.

“It is interesting that all members of the Scombridae family have an exceptionally fast development of the digestive and visual sensory systems (Tanaka et al., 1996;Morote et al., 2008), developmental traits that allow them a fast track toward piscivory.”

• cites Tanaka et al., 1996Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Morote et al., 2008 sourcePartly supported

  The Diet and selectivity section (p. 10) reports precocious digestive systems in some early-piscivorous scombrids, but describes Auxis rochei as intermediate between zooplanktivory and piscivory. The Vision enhancement section (p. 11) links improved vision and digestive development to a shift toward larger prey in A. rochei. Neither passage establishes exceptionally fast development of both systems in all Scombridae or a fast track to piscivory for every member. (LLM, conf=0.88)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Similar mechanisms have been proposed for the spawning of European anchovy in the Mediterranean and in the Bay of Biscay.

“Similar mechanisms have been proposed also for the spawning of European anchovy in the Mediterranean (Agostini and Bakun, 2002) and in the Bay of Biscay (Bellier et al., 2007;Planque et al., 2007).”

• cites Agostini and Bakun, 2002 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Bellier et al., 2007 sourceSupported
• cites Planque et al., 2007 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

In the ocean, concentration mechanisms are common around mesoscale fronts, eddies and upwelling jets, persistent thin layers, or following periods of relatively calm conditions.

“In the ocean, concentration mechanisms are common around mesoscale fronts, eddies and upwelling jets (Bakun, 2006), persistent thin layers (Cowles et al., 1998), or following periods of relatively calm conditions (Lasker, 1975).”

• cites Bakun, 2006 sourcePartly supported

  The Ocean Fronts section describes convergence that concentrates organisms, and the Mesoscale Eddies section describes concentration near convergent eddy interiors or edges. These support the portions attributed to Bakun about fronts and eddies. The passages do not establish concentration around upwelling jets specifically; the thin-layer and calm-condition clauses are attributed to other sources. (LLM, conf=0.82)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Cowles et al., 1998 sourceSupported
• cites Lasker, 1975Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Adult individuals of the Barents Sea cod stock migrate to the Vestfjorden near the Lofoten Islands along the west coast of Norway to spawn, but once there, they select their spawning site based on local temperature and salinity cues, that orient them within the Norwegian Coastal Current.

“For example, adult individuals of the Barents Sea cod stock migrate to the Vestfjorden near the Lofoten Islands along the west coast of Norway to spawn (Sundby and Nakken, 2008), but once there, they select their spawning site based on local temperature and salinity cues, that orient them within the Norwegian Coastal Current (Ellersten et al., 1989).”

• cites Sundby and Nakken, 2008 sourcePartly supported

  Split into 2 atoms — 1 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Ellersten et al., 1989Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

In general, plastic changes are expected to shift the phenotype along the reaction norm while evolutionary changes will shift the shape or position of the underlying reaction norm itself.

“In general, plastic changes are expected to shift the phenotype along the reaction norm while evolutionary changes will shift the shape or position of the underlying reaction norm itself (Hutchings, 2011).”

• cites Hutchings, 2011 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Such changes facilitate ecological transitions and allow individuals to inhabit a variety of habitats during their ontogeny, but they also constrain their distribution and the timing of arrival to these habitats.

“Such changes facilitate ecological transitions and allow individuals to inhabit a variety of habitats during their ontogeny (McMenamin and Parichy, 2013), but they also constrain their distribution and the timing of arrival to these habitats.”

• cites McMenamin and Parichy, 2013 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Atlantic cod fits in this category, having a high scope for local adaptations but limited scope for phenotypic plasticity.

“Atlantic cod also fits in this category, having a high scope for local adaptations (Knutsen et al., 2003;Olsen et al., 2008Olsen et al., , 2009)).”

• Also stated in: § Fish spawning habitats · plain

  “but limited scope for phenotypic plasticity.”

• cites Knutsen et al., 2003 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Olsen et al., 2008 sourcePartly supported

  The Discussion (page not provided) finds fine-scale differences in coastal cod life histories indicative of a genetic component, supporting the possibility of local adaptation. It does not establish a high scope for adaptation or limited phenotypic plasticity; the Discussion instead reports that plasticity influences cod maturation. The verbatim citing sentence does not explicitly make the limited-plasticity claim. (LLM, conf=0.86)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Olsen et al., 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Single populations of Atlantic herring have limited plasticity because they have demersal eggs and are dependent on landscape and vegetation for the survival of the eggs.

“For example, single populations of Atlantic herring have limited plasticity because they have demersal eggs and are dependent on landscape and vegetation for the survival of the eggs (Figure 5, Petitgas et al., 2012).”

• cites Petitgas et al., 2012 sourceCould not verify

  The Discussion (page unavailable) mentions Atlantic herring populations as examples of persistent, self-recruiting populations, but does not assess their plasticity or explain egg survival. Searches for demersal eggs, vegetation, spawning substrate, and herring plasticity found no passage addressing the claimed dependence on landscape and vegetation. (LLM, conf=0.76)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

May combine two claims.

Bluefin tuna has high plasticity of spawning site, which is environmentally selected, but limited scope for adaptations at a taxon level.

“Bluefin tuna on the other hand has high plasticity of spawning site, which is environmentally selected (Reglero et al., 2012), but limited scope for adaptations at a taxon level.”

• cites Reglero et al., 2012 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

Pacific sardine in the southern California Current system shows a high degree of spawning flexibility, which is related to variations from El Niño to La Niña conditions and water temperature.

“For example, Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) in the southern California current system shows a high degree of spawning flexibility, which is related to variations from the El Nin ˜o to La Nin ˜a conditions and water temperature (Figure 4; Weber and McClatchie, 2010;Song et al., 2012).”

• cites Weber and McClatchie, 2010 sourcePartly supported

  The Introduction (page unavailable) describes substantial year-to-year variation in peak spawning locations, and the Sardine spawning habitat section links egg occurrence to water temperature and notes a salinity effect during El Niño events. The copy does not establish that sardine spawning flexibility is related to variation across the full El Niño–La Niña range; it does not identify a La Niña effect. (LLM, conf=0.85)

  Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
• cites Song et al., 2012 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

For walleye pollock, the spatial range of older stages increases and spatial consistency decreases.

“In contrast, the spatial range of older pollock stages increases and spatial consistency decreases (Figure 1).”

May combine two claims.

For walleye pollock in the eastern Bering Sea, egg distribution, indicative of spawning habitats, is spatially constrained compared to other stages and over time is consistently located in the southeast region of the surveyed grid.

“For the walleye pollock case study, egg distribution, indicative of spawning habitats, is spatially constrained compared to other stages, and over time is consistently located in the southeast region of the surveyed grid.”

May combine two claims.

For Pacific sardine eggs in southern California, there is a significant relationship between the latitude of the spawning centre and water temperature (p=0.008, R2=0.265) and MEI (p=0.003, R2=0.331).

“There is a significant relationship between the latitude of the spawning centre and water temperature (linear regression, p ¼ 0.008, R 2 ¼ 0.265) and MEI (linear regression, p ¼ 0.003, R 2 ¼ 0.331).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). The quote only partly states this claim.

For walleye pollock eggs in the Western Gulf of Alaska, there is no significant relationship between the latitude and longitude of the spawning centre and water temperature.

“There is not a significant relationship between the latitude and longitude of the spawning centre and water temperature.”

May combine two claims.

Confronted with the choice of a pelagic or benthic development, pelagic development may be a valid alternative because it provides safety from predation, access to greater variety of food supplies and better oxygenation for the developing embryo and larvae.

“Confronted with the choice of a pelagic or benthic development, the former may be a valid alternative, because it provides safety from predation, access to greater variety of food supplies and better oxygenation for the developing embryo and larvae (Strathmann, 1985).”

• cites Strathmann, 1985 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Processes such as predation, starvation, or aberrant dispersal typically limit the amount of variability in spawning habitat that fish may undergo from 1 year to the next, and thus regulate the intensity of ecological constraints.

“Processes such as predation, starvation, or aberrant dispersal typically limit the amount of variability in spawning habitat that fish may undergo from 1 year to the next, and thus regulate the intensity of ecological constraints.”

• Also stated in: § Ecological and evolutionary constraints · plain

  “Processes such as predation, starvation, or aberrant dispersal typically limit the amount of variability in spawning habitat that fish may undergo from 1 year to the next, and thus regulate the intensity of ecological constraints.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The migration hypothesis states that the planktonic larvae of many marine invertebrates perform a migration into the plankton for feeding and safety.

“The”

• cites Strathmann, 1985 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

Schaefer (2001) hypothesized that tuna spawning is constrained by larval development, which is very short compared with temperate species.

“Schaefer (2001) hypothesized that tuna spawning is constrained by the larval development, which is very short compared with temperate species.”

• cites Schaefer, 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

If feeding, predation, and dispersal constraints were the main factors affecting the selection of a spawning habitat, there would be an evolutionary pressure toward reducing the extent of highly vulnerable life-history stages by restricting the dispersal phase and the time to settlement, and spawning habitats would ultimately be located near juvenile settlement areas and larval development wouldbe

“If feeding, predation, and dispersal constraints were the main factors affecting the selection of a spawning habitat, there would be an evolutionary pressure toward reducing the extent of highly vulnerable life-history stages (i.e. the pelagic larval duration) by restricting the dispersal phase and the time to settlement-spawning habitats would ultimately be located near the juvenile settlement a”

May combine two claims.

The most primitive tuna genera (Auxis, Katsuwonus) are confined to tropical waters while the most evolved genus (Thunnus) can occupy temperate environments.

“The most primitive genera (e.g.Auxis, Katsuwonus) are confined to tropical waters while the most evolved genus (Thunnus) can occupy temperate environments (Collette et al., 2001).”

• cites Collette et al., 2001 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

In the Pacific Ocean, bluefin tuna only spawn in the western boundary region, which is warmer than the eastern boundary.

“In the Pacific Ocean, bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) only spawn in the western boundary region, which is warmer than the eastern boundary (Sund et al., 1981).”

• cites Sund et al., 1981Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Fisheries oceanographers are more deeply focused on ecological constraints, while evolutionary biologists are more deeply focused on evolutionary constraints.

“We argue that fisheries oceanographers are well aware of, and more deeply focused on, the former set of constraints, while evolutionary biologists are more deeply focused on the latter set of constraints.”

May combine two claims.

A corollary of the migration hypothesis is that while ocean conditions are permissive of pelagic and dispersing larval stages, dispersal itself is not the primary cause for why fish have a planktonic early life-history stage.

“A corollary of this hypothesis is that while ocean conditions are permissive of pelagic and dispersing larval stages, dispersal itself is not the primary cause for why fish have a planktonic early life-history stage.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

For marine fish, the choice of the spawning location may be the only means to fulfil the dual needs of surviving from the egg to juvenile stage and dispersing across different habitats while minimizing predation and maximizing food intake.

“For marine fish, the choice of the spawning location may be the only means to fulfil the dual needs of surviving from the egg to juvenile stage and dispersing across different habitats while minimizing predation and maximizing food intake.”

• Also stated in: § Introduction · hedged

  “In this context, the location of the spawning habitat may be the only means that fish have to fulfil various needs including that of surviving from the egg to juvenile stage and dispersing across different habitats while minimizing predation and maximizing food intake.”

May combine two claims.

The locations where fish spawn are either fixed in geographical or in environmental coordinates.

“The locations where fish spawn are either fixed in geographical or in environmental coordinates.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

In tuna, the choice of spawning habitat is not unbounded, but constrained by the need to quickly move across developmental phases.

“This hypothesis adds an evolutionary perspective to the choice of spawning location because it implies that in tuna the choice of spawning habitat is not unbounded, but constrained by the need to quickly move across developmental phases.”

May combine two claims.

Several fish species follow the strategy of short pelagic larval duration and spawning near juvenile settlement areas, but many others do not.

“Several fish species seem to follow this strategy (e.g.tropical or coastal fish species with short pelagic larval duration), but many others do not.”

May combine two claims.

High site fidelity during spawning allows fish to place their offspring in the same location or set of environmental conditions of the parental or sibling generations, and therefore has fitness consequences.

“High site fidelity during spawning allows fish to place their offspring in the same location or set of environmental conditions of the parental or sibling generations, therefore, has fitness consequences.”

May combine two claims.

The first spawning strategy (local retention and self-recruitment) is common among tropical and subtropical fish but with increasing evidence also in species residing in temperate and Subarctic systems.

“The first spawning strategy is common among tropical and subtropical fish (Jones et al., 2005;Cowen et al., 2006;Almany et al., 2007;Planes et al., 2009) but with increasing evidence also in species residing in temperate and Subarctic systems (Miller and Shanks, 2004;Ciannelli et al., 2010).”

• cites Jones et al., 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Cowen et al., 2006 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Almany et al., 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The member-vagrant hypothesis links recruitment variability with advective losses during the dispersal phase.

“This was in fact the premise of the”

• cites Sinclair, 1998Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

At the onset of spring and summer upwelling-favourable winds, larvae are transported southward through the California Current and can reduce offshore transport by residing deeper in the water column.

“At the onset of spring and summer upwelling-favourable winds, larvae are transported southward through the California Current and, by residing deeper in the water column, can reduce offshore transport.”

May combine two claims.

Once they enter the spawning grounds of the western Mediterranean, bluefin tuna have undeveloped ovaries, but within a few weeks the ovary increases fourfold in mass.

“Once they enter the spawning grounds of the western Mediterranean, bluefin tuna have undeveloped ovaries, but within a few weeks the ovary increases fourfold in mass (Medina et al., 2002;Abascal and Medina, 2005).”

• cites Medina et al., 2002 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Abascal and Medina, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Fish that have a simpler social structure and travel solitarily have to either develop a strong sensory system allowing for distant mate recognition and/or have strong spawning-site fidelity to facilitate mate encounters.

“At the opposite extreme, fish that have a simpler social structure and travel solitarily have to either develop a strong sensory system allowing for distant mate recognition (e.g.eels, Huertas et al., 2008) and/or have strong spawning-site fidelity to facilitate mate encounters.”

• cites Huertas et al., 2008Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Fish species that conform to the strategy of converging in well-established geographic regions and within a brief temporal window (e.g. anadromous salmonids) are expected to have strong navigational abilities, innate homing behaviour, and their spawning areas are likely to be less sensitive to environmental variation.

“Fish species that conform to this strategy (e.g.anadromous salmonids) are expected to have strong navigational abilities (Putman et al., 2014), innate homing behaviour, and their spawning areas are likely to be less sensitive to environmental variation.”

• cites Putman et al., 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Good reproductive areas require enrichment, concentration, and retention processes, the ocean triads hypothesis.

“A notable exception is that of Bakun (2009) for the”

• cites Bakun (2009)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

These offshore species typically release their larvae or eggs during winter, after which eggs are transported northward through the inshore countercurrent and inshore by downwelling-favourable winds.

“These species typically release their larvae or eggs during winter, after which eggs are transported northward through the inshore countercurrent (Shanks and Eckert, 2005) and inshore by downwelling-favourable winds (Parish et al., 1981).”

• cites Shanks and Eckert, 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Parish et al., 1981Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

May combine two claims.

Several more recent studies have shown that Atlantic herring has a diverse genetic structure and array of life-history strategies, some of which include long-distance dispersal between nursery and spawning grounds.

“However, several more recent studies have shown that Atlantic herring has a diverse genetic structure (Bekkevold et al., 2005;Gaggiotti et al., 2009) and array of life-history strategies (Haegele and Schweigert, 1985;Geffen, 2009), some of which include long-distance dispersal between nursery and spawning grounds (Hamre, 1990;Huse et al., 2010).”

• cites Bekkevold et al., 2005 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Gaggiotti et al., 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Haegele and Schweigert, 1985 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Common circulation patterns targeted by spawning adults are coastal currents, slope currents, surface branches of subtropical gyres, or undercurrents.

“Common circulation patterns targeted by spawning adults are coastal currents (e.g.walleye pollock in the Gulf of Alaska, Kendall et al., 1996), slope currents (e.g.slope-spawning flatfish, Bailey et al., 2008;Sohn et al., 2010), surface branches of subtropical gyres (e.g.eels, Schabetsberger et al., 2013), or undercurrents (e.g.Pacific hake, Bailey and Francis, 1985).”

• cites Kendall et al., 1996 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Bailey et al., 2008 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Sohn et al., 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

In offshore habitats characterized by seasonally varying alongshore currents, fish species are mostly live-bearing and pelagic broadcast spawners with a relatively long pelagic larval duration spanning at least two contrasting oceanographic seasons.

“In offshore habitats, which are characterized by seasonally varying alongshore currents, fish species are mostly live-bearing (e.g.Sebastes spp.) and pelagic broadcast spawners (e.g.slope-dwelling flatfish species), with a relatively long pelagic larval duration, spanning over at least two contrasting oceanographic seasons.”

May combine two claims.

Fish that adopt either or both of these strategies may not necessarily be constrained to a specific geographic location to mate, but would still depend on a suite of favourable environmental conditions.

“Fish that adopt either or both of these strategies may not necessarily be constrained to a specific geographic location to mate, but would still depend on a suite of favourable environmental conditions.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Subarctic fish species may be equally constrained by adult physiology, for example by being more dependent on seasonal warming events and light conditions, leading to a shortened spawning season.

“Subarctic species may be equally constrained by adult physiology, for example by being more dependent on seasonal warming events and light conditions, leading to a shortened spawning season.”

May combine two claims.

The deep-sea anglerfish example illustrates two effective strategies to facilitate mate encounter: permanent proximity to the mate and highly capable sensory systems.

“The deep-sea anglerfish example illustrates two effective strategies to facilitate mate encounter, namely permanent proximity to the mate and highly capable sensory systems.”

May combine two claims.

Atlantic bluefin tuna has very high fecundity (90 oocytes per gram) and asynchronous ovarian development, whereby all different stages of oocyte maturation are found at any given time in the ovary.

“For example, Atlantic bluefin tuna has very high fecundity ( 90 oocytes per gram) and asynchronous ovarian development, whereby all different stages of oocyte maturation are found at any given time in the ovary (Medina et al., 2002).”

• cites Medina et al., 2002 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Enrichment via upwelling fuels primary and secondary production, which in turn provides food biomass for developing larvae.

“Enrichment, for example via upwelling, fuels primary and secondary production, in turn providing food biomass for developing larvae.”

May combine two claims.

Large-bodied slope-spawning flatfish have long larval drift pathways and geographically constrained spawning and nursery habitats.

“Large-bodied, slopespawning flatfish, for example, fall into this latter group of fish, having long larval drift pathways and geographically constrained spawning and nursery habitats (Bailey et al., 2008;Sohn et al., 2010).”

• cites Bailey et al., 2008 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Sohn et al., 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Fish with high spawning plasticity (Groups A and B) are not geographically constrained to a spawning area or to a nursery habitat; they select reproductive locations based on environmental cues and thus have the potential to follow environmental gradients.

“Fish with high spawning plasticity (Groups A and B) are not geographically constrained to a spawning area or to a nursery habitat.Rather they select reproductive locations based on environmental cues and thus have the potential to follow environmental gradients.”

May combine two claims.

Flatfish typically have an extensive dispersal phase, during which the larvae undergo radical morphological and behavioural changes.

“They typically have extensive dispersal phase, during which the larvae undergo radical morphological (e.g.asymmetry, eye migration, cranial bones, and pigmentation) and behavioural (e.g.swimming posture) changes (Schreiber, 2013).”

• cites Duffy-Anderson et al., 2014 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Schreiber, 2013 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

Evolutionary constraints, inherent in the species evolutionary history, limit the degree of such adaptations.

“Evolutionary constraints, inherent of the species evolutionary history, limit the degree of such adaptations.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

Reaching favourable settlement grounds can constrain fish spawning habitats, particularly in species that have highly specialized habitat requirements during the postsettlement phase.

“Reaching favourable settlement grounds can constrain fish spawning habitats, particularly in species that have highly specialized habitat requirements during the postsettlement phase.”

May combine two claims.

Both the herring and walleye pollock examples conform to the third strategy, having high scope for genetic adaptability but limited scope for phenotypic plasticity.

“Both of these examples conform to the third strategy (Figure 3c), having high scope for genetic adaptability but limited scope for phenotypic plasticity.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

To overcome these limits, fish have to evolve and therefore change their genotypic distributions, a process referred to as spawning adaptability.

“To overcome these limits, fish have to evolve and therefore change their genotypic distributions, a process that we refer to as spawning adaptability.”

May combine two claims.

The similarity of environmental spawning requirements across basins indicates an overall reduced diversity of species spawning strategies and high evolutionary constraint to the choice of spawning habitats.

“indicating an overall reduced diversity of species spawning strategies and high evolutionary constraint to the choice of spawning habitats (Figure 3b).”

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning occurs only in two basins, the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Mexico.

May combine two claims.

In this framework, ecological constraints set the outer limits for plastic changes, while evolutionary constraints limit the shape and position of the reaction norm, that is, how it may potentially evolve.

“Specifically, ecological constraints set the outer limits for plastic changes, while evolutionary constraints limit the shape and position of the reaction norm, that is, how it may potentially evolve (Figure 2).”

May combine two claims.

Spawning location is the anchor of a fish's spatial distribution and therefore affects the degree to which species can respond to environmental variability by changing their habitats.

“Spawning location is the anchor of a fish's spatial distribution, and will therefore affect the degree to which species can respond to environmental variability by changing their habitats.”