Ecological studies on crater lakes in West Cameroon The blood of endemic cichlids in Barombi Mbo in relation to stratification and their feeding habits

Abstract Accurate identification of predator species is a critical requirement to investigate their diet using faecal samples. We used non-invasive sampling and two methods of predator identification to investigate the diets of sympatric carnivores in a highly deforested region of the Brazilian Amazon. Of 108 scats, 81 could be identified at the species level using DNA sequencing and/or trichology. The former performed better than the latter (81.5% vs. 54.3% of the identified samples), and results were quite congruent (89.7% concordance in the 29 samples that could be assessed with both approaches). Nine species were identified, out of which four (crab-eating fox, ocelot, puma and jaguar) presented a sufficient number of samples to allow dietary analyses. The crab-eating fox was the most generalist (BA=0.92); ocelots focused on small- to medium-sized prey; pumas fed mostly on medium-sized items; and jaguars mostly targeted large-sized prey. A considerable overlap was observed between ocelots and pumas in all estimations (O=0.47–0.83). The presence of jaguars in the same region could be driving pumas to select medium- and small-sized prey. The results of this study highlight the importance of reliable predator identification and the need for in-depth ecological studies in areas where carnivore species are sympatric.

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Ecological studies on the sea star, Astropecten latespinosus, Meissner VII Foraging behaviour and feeding habits in experimental conditions

Biology of Echinodermata ◽

10.1201/9781003077565-37 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 161-167

Author(s):

Satoshi Nojima

Keyword(s):

Foraging Behaviour ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Sea Star ◽

Ecological Studies ◽

Experimental Conditions

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Ecological studies on crater lakes in West Cameroon Fishes of Barombi Mbo

Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1972.tb01722.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 167 (1) ◽

pp. 41-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Ethelwynn Trewavas ◽

J. Green ◽

Sarah A. Corbet

Keyword(s):

Ecological Studies ◽

Crater Lakes

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Acari and Collembola biodiversity in Canadian agricultural soils

Canadian Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.4141/s01-063 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 83 (Special Issue) ◽

pp. 279-288 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

V. M. Behan-Pelletier

Keyword(s):

Population Structure ◽

Key Words ◽

Life Histories ◽

Size Range ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Ecological Studies ◽

Research Challenges ◽

Effective Use

In Canadian agricultural soils, mites (Acari) are the most diverse and abundant arthropods. In comparison with other arachnids, mites are notable for their small size, diverse feeding habits, often complex life histories, and the range of habitats in which they live. Collembola are also abundant and diverse in soil and litter, they are in the same size range as the Acari, and for that reason the two groups are often combined in soil ecological studies as “microarthropods ”. This paper provides a descriptive overview of the state of our knowledge on the taxonomy of these arthropods. It reviews the literature on biology and ecology of microarthropods in Canadian agroecosystems, especially on implications of various agricultural practices for their diversity and population structure. It discusses the research challenges in taxonomy and ecology to address effective use of this biodiversity in Canadian agroecosystems. Key words: Acari, Collembola, microarthropods, taxonomy, ecology

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