Abstract Submission Instructions

To submit an abstract for the OEEC, please follow these instructions.  If you have questions contact oeec2008@uoguelph.ca.

All abstracts for posters or talks should be e-mailed to oeec2008@uoguelph.ca as a word document (.doc) attachment and should be named with the author’s last name and first name followed by “talk” or “poster”.

eg. Smith_John_Talk.doc or Smith_John_Poster.doc

Abstract Format:

Please format your abstract as follows (we will not reformat or alter text):

1. All abstracts should be in Times New Roman font
2. Use 12pt font size with 1.25 inch borders (left and right) and 1 inch borders (top and bottom) – this is the Word default.
3. Scientific names should be in italics
4. Title BOLD – 25 word limit – Do not use all caps.
5. List names in this following format and use an asterisk after the presenter’s last name:
   
   Last name, First name, Initial, Last name*, First name, Initial.

6. Include the affiliation (Department and University) of presenting author only.
7. Abstract body: 250 word limit – one paragraph only, do not use sub-headings. Abstracts may include brief background, hypothesis or statement of purpose, brief results and conclusions/implications.
8. Include up to 5 key words immediately after abstract.

Please follow the format of this example:

Alternative reproductive tactics in the long footed fish (Podiatry longifootist).

Salmon, Rachel F., Fisher*, Bruce D., Bass, Michael A.
Department of Integrative biology. University of Guelph.

The recently discovered long footed fish (Podiatry longifootist) inhabits Ontario lakes where males form large breeding colonies in shallow bays and use their unique feet to hold themselves at the surface of the water. During egg incubation, the males feed on aquatic surface insects to maintain nutrition so that they can provide paternal care for their young. Females do not provide parental care and lack feet but retain long red fins. An additional male morph was recently identified characterized by short feet lacking structural muscles but with the coloration similar to female fins. The purpose of this investigation is to assess the behavioural characteristics of this novel male morph and to quantify the reproductive fitness (paternity) of footed males. We employ a combination of observational studies of these fish during spawning with microsatellite analysis of offspring and footed males to address the predictions that the novel male morph acts as a female mimic and steals fertilizations from footed males while escaping paternal care responsibilities. Observational results indicate that the alternative male morph is found in significant proximity to spawning pairs but is not otherwise present during the male incubation period. Genetic analysis indicates that there is a strong negative correlation between average paternity of the footed males and an increased presence of alternative males morphs R = 0.84. Our results suggest that the mating system in the long footed fish is a novel case of the evolution of male alternative reproductive tactics (ART).

Key words: fish, alternative reproductive tactics, microsatellite, mating ecology, feet