Research Training Program

In 1988, a study conducted by Able and Felley concluded that the population found in Lover's Lake on St. George's Island represented a new species, Fundulus relictus, which differed from the known Fundulus bermudae from Mangrove Lake. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the newly discovered populations from Evan's, Walsingham, and Warwick ponds, are new species or populations of F. bermudae or F. relictus. Specimens from each location were measured to determine any distinguishable differences. Counts were made of the vertebrae, dorsal and anal fin-rays. Able and Felley concluded that F. relictus has lower fin-ray counts as well as a greater interorbital width, greater predorsal distance and a slender caudal peduncle. Another difference is that the female F. relictus has a shorter anal-sheath. Meristic comparisons showed that F. relictus from Lover's Lake and the population from Walsingham Pond were very similar in both dorsal and anal fin-ray counts as well as the pre-caudal and total vertebrae. Fundulus bermudae from Mangrove Lake and the Warwick Pond's population were also very similar in the dorsal fin-rays, the pre-caudal, caudal and total vertebrae. The population found in Evan's Pond differed from the others, and my conclusions are that it could be a new species. The counts for both dorsal and anal fin-rays did not deviate as much as the other populations, but the pre-caudal, caudal, and total vertebrae counts were lower, making Evan's distinguishable from the others. This project is the first step in distinguishing whether there is a new species in Bermuda and whether there are variations in other waters of the existing species. Dr. Collette will continue analyzing the data collected to make further comparisons.

This project was made possible by a grant from the National Science Foundation Louis Strokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program award EAR-9 7-32416.

Letter of Gratitude