Crevice spawning behavior in Dionda dichroma, with comments on the evolution of spawning modes in North American shiners (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

The crevice spawning behavior of Dionda dichroma is described for the first time, and compared to spawning behavior in the genus Cyprinella. The evolution of crevice spawning with respect to other spawning behaviors of North American shiners is examined using explicitly phylogenetic hypotheses for this group. We present evidence that broadcast spawning is plesiomorphic and all other spawning behaviors are independently derived. There is evidence that crevice spawning has evolved independently at least three times within the shiner clade. There is no support for an evolutionary transition between egg clustering and crevice spawning. Nest association, spawning on habitat prepared by other species, has also evolved multiple times within this clade. Evolution of spawning in shiners is best described by phylogenetic stasis with several independent origins of specialized spawning strategies.