This special volume is dedicated to the contributions of women
ichthyologists. Three colleagues were selected to represent all women
ichthyologists, Ethelwynn Trewavas (ET), Rosemary Lowe-McConnell
(Ro) and Eugenie Clark (Genie). All have had distinguished
professional careers and have contributed in their own ways to their
science. The career of each is highlighted by a personal interview with
one of the editors of the volume, a bibliography of their lifetime
publications, and a biography of their careers. Questions of historical
inequities and current controversies in the treatment of women
ichthyologists by their peers are raised and addressed by the women
themselves. The personal and professional influences of these three
women, and other women ichthyologists, are highlighted. A survey article
by Pat Brown brings a number of women ichthyologists to the attention of
a broader audience, and points the way for a more comprehensive
historical consideration of the accomplishments and contributions of
women ichthyologists. The volume continues with 16 solicited and
contributed papers. ET's studies of taxonomy and life history are echoed
in papers on the taxonomy and systematics of marine angelfishes, and of
freshwater bitterlings, a review of reproduction in the North Atlantic
ichthyofauna, and a comparison of reproductive styles and systematics of
African minnows. Ro's studies on ecology, life history and behaviour are
paralleled by papers on growth and metabolism in piranha, the community
structure in tide pool fishes, and the social system and reproductive
patterns in groupers. Genie's pioneering work on sexual roles and sex
change, and her field studies of the behaviour of marine fishes are
reflected in papers on gonadal structure and environmental sex
determination in brook lamprey, sexual patterns in hawkfish,
reproduction and systematics in phallostethids, gonadal structure and
systematics in gobiids, reproductive and predator avoidance behaviour in
razorfish, early ontogeny of an African mouth brooder, and alternative
life histories in killifish.
