Environmental regulation of sex determination in fishes: Insights from Atheriniformes

Curr Top Dev Biol. 2019:134:49-69. doi: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.02.003. Epub 2019 Mar 20.

Abstract

Sex determination is the first step toward the establishment of phenotypic sex in most vertebrates. Aquatic poikilotherms such as teleost fishes exhibit a high diversity of sex-determination mechanisms and gonadal phenotypes that are remarkably plastic and responsive to a variety of environmental factors (e.g., water temperature, pH, salinity, photoperiod, population density). This chapter reviews current knowledge of genotypic and environmental sex determination systems in fishes with special reference to Atheriniformes-one of the best-characterized taxa in this field-and offers perspectives to guide and stimulate further research.

Keywords: Anti-müllerian hormone; GSD; Global warming; Sex-determining gene; Silverside; Stress response; TSD; Water quality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Environment*
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Genotype
  • Gonads / physiology*
  • Phenotype
  • Sex Determination Processes*
  • Sex Differentiation*