Life-history patterns of 25 species from European freshwater fish communities

Fish life-history patterns were evaluated in relation to the trilateral continuum model by analyzing data from 25 species inhabiting European freshwaters. Multivariate tests identified a trend between later-maturing fishes with higher fecundity, larger size, and few spawning bouts per year and the opposite suite of traits with small fishes. A second trend contrasted fishes having parental care, smaller eggs, and longer breeding seasons against fishes with the opposite suite of traits. As a result, two extreme life-history patterns could be identified among European freshwater fish species: opportunistic and periodic. Nevertheless, intermediate patterns were also present. A true equilibrium life-history pattern was not represented among 25 fish species from European freshwaters. The high concordance of basic life-history patterns among distantly related taxa is probably caused by some universal tradeoffs among life-history variables. As a consequence, only a limited life-history patterns may be recognizable among fish species, independently of the origin of fish communities.