Life history traits and survival rate in Neolamprologus buescheri
Data files
Oct 23, 2025 version files 40.79 KB
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analysis.R
1.74 KB
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clutch_size.xlsx
11.32 KB
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README.md
3.36 KB
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survival_and_body_size.xlsx
24.37 KB
Abstract
Neolamprologus buescheri, a cooperatively breeding cichlid fish endemic to Lake Tanganyika, exhibits one of the slowest life histories documented among teleost fish. With remarkably small clutch sizes ranging from one to seven eggs (median = 3) and exceptionally high juvenile survival rates of over 50% within two months, this species deviates significantly from typical fish reproductive patterns. Its slow somatic growth, prolonged parental care, and occupation of deep-water habitats place it at the end of the fast–slow life-history continuum among fish.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.83bk3jb59
Description of the data and file structure
Field sampling and behavioral observations were conducted via scuba diving at three sites located at the southern end of Lake Tanganyika: Kasenga (8.71530° S, 31.14182° E), Kombe (8.79839° S, 31.02001° E), and Cape Kachese (8.49187° S, 30.47987° E). Of these locations, Kombe Point was prioritized for sampling and observation as N. buescheri occurs there in relatively shallow waters, facilitating easier capture. All experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committees of the Graduate School of Advanced Studies at Kyoto University and were conducted in accordance with the ASAB/ABS Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Behavioral Research. Fieldwork in Lake Tanganyika was carried out with authorization from the Zambian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, and was conducted in full compliance with Zambian regulations.
Files and variables
File: clutch_size.xlsx
Description: Life history trait data for females with a focus on clutch size
Variables
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year: Sampling year
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individual_ID: identification number
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population: localities where specimens were caught.
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sex: female or male
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SL: standard length in cm
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BW: body weight in g
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gonad_weight_g: soma mass of specimen
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clutch_size: the number of eggs in the overies
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No_juveniles: the number of juveniles in their territory
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egg_size: egg size in mm
Note that this data was collected based on multiple projects, so some life history data is missing. NA indicates life history traits that were not measured.
File: survival_and_body_size.xlsx
Row data
- year: Sampling year
- nestID: identification number of nest
- individual_ID: identification number of fry
- week: age of week
- brood size: the number of fry in nest
- survival: Absence or existence of focal fry (1 = existence, 0 = absence)
When the observation could not be conducted due to reasons such as the observer's physical condition, the data was indicated as NA.
Brood size on one week
- year: Sampling year
- nestID: identification number of nest
- individual_ID: identification number of fry
- week: age of week
- brood size: the number of fry in nest
- survival: Absence or existence of focal fry (1 = existence, 0 = absence)
- SL_in_mm: standard length of focal fry in mm
data for survival analysis: this dataset was transformed from row data (sheet 1) to analysis
- year: Sampling year
- nestID: identification number of nest
- individual_ID: identification number of fry
- week: age of week
- brood size: the number of fry in nest
- survivalduration: survival time (week) of focal fry during field observation.
- *SL_*in_mm: standard length of focal fry in mm
File: analysis.R
Description: R script for drawing figures used in the paper. This R script generates a Kaplan-Meier survival curve with confidence intervals and a risk table, plots a histogram of clutch size, and visualizes growth rate over time with point sizes representing counts and a red moving average trend line.
Code/software
R: R Core Team (2023). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing.