scholarly journals Food Resource Utilization by Five Species of Benthic Feeding Fish in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1534-1546 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Stevenson Macdonald ◽  
Roger H. Green
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Diet Overlap ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Pseudopleuronectes Americanus ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Benthic Composition

Feeding relationships of various fish species, and their relationship to the composition of the surrounding sediments, were observed for 1 yr at two sites in the lower Bay of Fundy region. The fishes were the ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus, Zoarcidae), winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus, Pleuronectidae), plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides, Pleuronectidae), cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae), and witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, Pleuronectidae). After reducing the size of the data matrix by removing redundant variables, we used discriminant function analysis to assess interspecific diet overlap and the degree to which stomach contents reflect benthic composition. Variables were ranked by their power to discriminate in pairwise comparisons among fish species and between a given fish species and benthic grab samples. Many amphipods are utilized to an equal or greater extent than their abundances in the sediments would suggest. Many annelids are underutilized. Predation by each fish species was a selective process, and interspecific diet differences are related to the morphology of the predator and the behavior and microhabitat of the prey. The fishes diets, however, are also correlated with spatial and temporal changes in the benthic composition. Specific examples are presented. As benthic food abundance increased in the surrounding sediments all predator species increased their food consumption and interspecific diet overlap declined. In some cases the degree of exploitation depended upon the size rather than the abundance of the prey item.

scholarly journals Diet of two syntopic species of Crenuchidae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes) in an Amazonian rocky stream

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Fernandes ◽  
Rafael Pereira Leitão ◽  
Eurizângela Pereira Dary ◽  
Ana Isabel Camacho Guerreiro ◽  
Jansen Zuanon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Relative Volume ◽  
Diet Overlap ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Taxonomic Level ◽  
Genus Level ◽  
The Family ◽  
Feeding Plasticity

Abstract This study assessed the diet of two poorly known syntopic fish species of the family Crenuchidae, Characidium aff. declivirostre and Leptocharacidium omospilus, in a Presidente Figueiredo´ rocky stream, Amazonas, Brazil. The stomach contents were analyzed and their Frequency of Occurrence (FO %) and Relative Volume (Vol %) were combined in a Feeding Index (IAi). We examined 20 individuals of C. aff. declivirostre and 23 of L. omospilus. The Morisita-Horn Index was used to estimate the overlap between the diets of these species. Immature insects were the most valuable items consumed by both fish species. The diet of C. aff. declivirostre was mainly composed of larvae and pupae of Chironomidae, while L. omospilus predominantly consumed larvae of Hydroptilidae, Hydropyschidae and Pyralidae. Thus, both species were classified as autochthonous insectivorous. Characidium aff. declivirostre was considered a more specialized species, probably reflecting lower feeding plasticity or the use of more restricted microhabitats compared to L. omospilus. When the food items were analyzed at the family taxonomic level, the diet overlap between these species was considered moderate (Morisita-Horn Index = 0.4). However, a more thorough analysis, at the genus level, indicates a very low diet overlap. Therefore, we conclude that the feeding segregation between C. aff. declivirostre and L. omospilus may favor their co-existence, despite their high phylogenetic closeness.

fish–macrofauna interactions in a kelp (laminaria hyperborea) forest

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 1279-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
k.m. norderhaug ◽  
h. christie ◽  
j.h. fosså ◽  
s. fredriksen
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Diurnal Cycle ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Kelp Forest ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Laminaria Hyperborea ◽  
Lacuna Vincta ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Myoxocephalus Scorpius ◽  
Labrus Bergylta

predator–prey interactions between fish and macrofauna in kelp (laminaria hyperboea) forest were examined. fish were caught in gill-nets and fish traps at two sites and throughout the diurnal cycle. their stomach contents were analysed. the most abundant fish species, except pollachius virens, were caught in larger numbers at night than during daytime. the examined fish fed throughout the diurnal cycle and kelp-associated fauna were found to be important prey. pollachius virens was caught in the same numbers throughout the diurnal cycle and contained mainly pelagic prey, in larger numbers during the day than at night. small labrids were specialists, feeding mainly on the two numerically dominant kelp-associated gastropods rissoa parva and lacuna vincta. the larger labrus bergylta, gadus morhua and myoxocephalus scorpius were generalists, feeding on a large range of kelp-associated invertebrates. some fish species showed preference for particular vertical levels when feeding in the kelp forest. the most mobile and/or the largest invertebrates were most heavily preyed upon.

scholarly journals Diet and ecomorphology of predator fish species of the Amazonian floodplain lakes

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo Campos Cardoso ◽  
Pieter deHart ◽  
Carlos Edwar de Carvalho Freitas ◽  
Flávia Kelly Siqueira-Souza
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
Floodplain Lakes ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Fish Morphology ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
High Diversity

Abstract: Amazonian floodplain lakes host a high diversity of predatory fish which coexist and exploit the high diversity of available prey. Morphology could be the characteristic most closely associated with their preferred feeding sources (prey). However, it is unclear whether this association is direct or indirect. If it is indirect, swimming performance or preferential position in the water column could be the most evident characteristic. To examine the degree to which fish morphology of predator fish species is correlated to their dietary inputs, we compared the existence of morphological and feeding dissimilarity among eight predator species with the association between predator morphologies and preferred prey. We collected, measured, and sampled the stomach contents of fish from two lowland floodplain lakes associated with the Solimões River, Brazil, in May, August, and November of 2014. Of 187 collected fish across eight species, five species showed fish to be the most important item in their diets and three preferentially ate shrimp. Principal components analyses of ecomorphological attributes divided the species according to their ability to find the prey, swimming performance of the predator, and prey size. While there was significant distinction between the varying morphologies of predators, we were unable to distinguish between the specific diet of these species and did not find a correlation between morphology and feeding. These results are likely due to the fact that there is great abundance and diversity of available prey in the Amazonian floodplain lakes, so opportunistic feeding may be the primary foraging strategy of predator fish species living in these environments.

scholarly journals Implications of low food availability on resource partitioning among three species of Cichlidae (Pisces: Perciformes) in a Brazilian semi-arid reservoir

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Renaly Souza Figueiredo ◽  
Gabrielle Joanne Medeiros Araujo ◽  
Márcio Joaquim da Silva ◽  
Elvio Sergio Figueredo Medeiros
Keyword(s):  
Food Availability ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Resource Partitioning ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Feeding Mode ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Semi Arid

AimResource partitioning has been recognized as a major driver affecting fish communities, with the potential to reduce interespecific competition. This is the result of differences in feeding apparatuses and feeding mode, location of the fish species in the water column and swimming ability, as well as type and size of prey and its availability. The present study surveys a highly limited aquatic system in semi-arid Brazil with regard to habitat and food availability, with very low diversity of fish, and poor in underwater habitat structures and prey, with the objective of understanding resource partitioning among fish species under such conditions.MethodsThree species of Cichlidae (Pisces: Perciformes) were sampled during the dry and wet seasons and had their stomach contents analyzed to evaluate food consumption. The resource partition among fish species was evaluated based on Pianka’s niche overlap index and tested for significance against null models.ResultsIt was observed a low overlap among the study species in food resource use, with individuals tending to specialize to select some food items. This is likely the result of low natural variation in abundance of specific food items associated with fish preferences (both morphological and behavioral).ConclusionsThese results support evidence that, in Brazilian semi-arid aquatic systems, coexistence of fish species seems to be enhanced by the partition of food items at specific trophic levels. Within this context, flow variability would have a key hole in fish coexistence by promoting a high diversity of aquatic habitat elements available for colonization of fish and their prey. Furthermore, food resources available to fish play an important role in this dynamics since prey foods are expected to vary in abundance as the habitat changes.

scholarly journals Bioaccumulation of mercury in fishes of Jagadishpur Reservoir, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Prakash Acharya ◽  
Chhatra Mani Sharma ◽  
Shichang Kang ◽  
Lekhendra Tripathee ◽  
Junming Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Fish Length ◽  
Mystus Vittatus ◽  
Total Hg ◽  
Food Resource Utilization

Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N, ‰) and carbon (δ13C, ‰), accompanied by stomach contents were used to assess the food chain and trophic transfer of mercury in fifty-three marketable sized fish belonging to five species (Channa punctatus, Mystus vittatus, Nandus nandus, Puntius sophore and Xenentodon cancila) from the Jagadishpur Reservoir, Nepal. The highest total Hg concentration was found in X. cancila with an average of 800.42(±279.36) µg/kg exceeding the international marketing limit (500 mg/kg), a carnivorous species. However, except for some individuals of N. nandus, total Hg concentrations in other fish species in the present study were significantly lower than that limit. The fish community had at least two trophic levels (Δ15N > 5.6), C. punctatus with the highest and M. vittatus the lowest signatures of δ15N, which was also supported by the stomach content analysis. There was neither correlation between total Hg and δ15N nor connectivity in food resource utilization (based on δ13C), indicating no biomagnification among these fish species. In addition, Hg concentrations were not significantly correlated to total fish length in any of the species. Fish species in the present study have low Hg content accompanied by low biomagnification through the studied fish community.

Trophic position scales positively with body size within but not among four species of rocky reef predators

2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Olson ◽  
A Frid ◽  
JBQ dos Santos ◽  
F Juanes
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Predatory Fishes ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Interspecific Comparisons ◽  
Large Predators

Intra- and interspecifically, larger-bodied predators generally occupy higher trophic positions (TPs). With widespread declines in large predators, there is a need to understand their size-based trophic roles to predict ecosystem-level responses. In British Columbia, Canada, we examined size-based trophic interactions between predatory fishes—3 rockfish species (genus Sebastes) and lingcod Ophiodon elongatus—and their prey, converting predator δ15N signatures to TP and analyzing stomach contents. Intraspecifically, TP scaled positively with predator length and gape width, but the rates of change varied by species. Interspecifically, TP did not scale positively with the observed mean sizes or known maximum sizes of species. Lingcod TP was lower than that of yelloweye and quillback rockfishes, which were 51 and 37%, respectively, smaller than lingcod. Yellowtail rockfish had the smallest average size, yet their mean TP did not differ significantly from that of lingcod. Neither species differences in some morphometric traits known to influence body size-TP relationships nor phylogenetic history explained these results. Most prey consumed were <20% of the predator’s size, which might partially explain the lack of a size-based trophic hierarchy among species. Currently, large size classes of rockfishes are being lost due to fisheries and perhaps climate-driven changes. Our findings on intraspecific size-TP relationships indicate that fishery removals of large individuals may diminish trophic structures. Interspecific comparisons of TP suggest that, along with size, species remain an important factor in understanding trophic dynamics. In addition, smaller-bodied predator species may have significant ecological roles to be considered in ecosystem-based fisheries management.

scholarly journals The Influence of Fear Effect to a Discrete-Time Predator-Prey System with Predator Has Other Food Resource

Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 865
Author(s):  
Jialin Chen ◽  
Xiaqing He ◽  
Fengde Chen
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Time ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Sufficient Conditions ◽  
Iteration Scheme ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Interior Equilibrium ◽  
Fear Effect ◽  
Prey System ◽  
Trivial Equilibrium

A discrete-time predator–prey system incorporating fear effect of the prey with the predator has other food resource is proposed in this paper. The trivial equilibrium and the predator free equilibrium are both unstable. A set of sufficient conditions for the global attractivity of prey free equilibrium and interior equilibrium are established by using iteration scheme and the comparison principle of difference equations. Our study shows that due to the fear of predation, the prey species will be driven to extinction while the predator species tends to be stable since it has other food resource, i.e., the prey free equilibrium may be globally stable under some suitable conditions. Numeric simulations are provided to illustrate the feasibility of the main results.

scholarly journals Seasonal feeding plasticity can facilitate coexistence of dominant omnivores in Neotropical streams

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayara P. Neves ◽  
Pavel Kratina ◽  
Rosilene L. Delariva ◽  
J. Iwan Jones ◽  
Clarice B. Fialho
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Diet Overlap ◽  
Isotopic Niche ◽  
Neotropical Streams ◽  
Feeding Plasticity ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCoexistence of ecomorphologically similar species in diverse Neotropical ecosystems has been a focus of long-term debate among ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Such coexistence can be promoted by trophic plasticity and seasonal changes in omnivorous feeding. We combined stomach content and stable isotope analyses to determine how seasonal variation in resource availability influences the consumption and assimilation of resources by two syntopic fish species, Psalidodon aff. gymnodontus and P. bifasciatus, in the Lower Iguaçu basin. We also tested the impact of seasonality on trophic niche breadth and diet overlap of these two dominant omnivores. Seasonal changes in resource availability strongly influenced the consumption and assimilation of resources by the two fish species. Both species exhibited high levels of omnivory, characterized by high diversity of allochthonous resources in the wet season. Terrestrial invertebrates were the main component of diet during this season. However, in the dry season, both species reduced their isotopic niches, indicating diet specialization. High diet overlap was observed in both seasons, but the isotopic niche overlap was smaller in the dry season. Substantial reduction in the isotopic niche of P. bifascistus and a shift toward aquatic invertebrates can facilitate coexistence during this season of resource shortage. Feeding plasticity allows omnivorous fish to adjust their trophic niches according to seasonality, promoting the exploitation of different resources during periods of greater resource diversity. This seasonal variation could be an important mechanism that contributes to the resource partitioning and coexistence of dominant omnivores in Neotropical streams.

scholarly journals Population dynamics of two sympatric intertidal fish species (the shanny, Lipophrys pholis and long-spined scorpion fish, Taurulus bubalis) of Great Britain

2016 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 589-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Barrett ◽  
M.L. Johnson ◽  
S.L. Hull
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Rocky Intertidal ◽  
Melanogrammus Aeglefinus ◽  
Intertidal Zones ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Scorpion Fish

The shanny/common blenny (Lipophrys pholis) and long-spined scorpionfish/bullhead (Taurulus bubalis) are commonly encountered, sympatric species within much of Great Britain's rocky intertidal zones. Despite being prey items of the cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) respectively, and both contributors to the diet of the near-threatened European otter (Lutra lutra), little is known on the population dynamics of the temperate specimens of Great Britain. It is further less known of the degrees of sympatricity between the two fish species and to what extent they are able to coexist. The current study examines spatio-temporal distributions and abundances at various resolutions: monthly population dynamics of both species along England's Yorkshire coast and seasonal population dynamics along the Yorkshire coast and around the Isle of Anglesey, Wales. Studies of their abundances, sizes, degrees of rock pool co-occurrence and diel activities are further examined, which indicate coexistence is maintained when interspecific co-occurrence takes place only between specimens of similar sizes, thus demoting size-related dominance hierarchies.

​Discrimination of Five Gobid Species (Family: Gobiidae) based on Otolith Morphometry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikas Pathak ◽  
Rinchen N. Bhutia ◽  
Shashi Bhushan ◽  
Geetanjali Deshmukhe ◽  
A.K. Jaiswar
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Discriminant Function Analysis ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Allometric Growth ◽  
Fish Size ◽  
Sagittal Otolith ◽  
Shape Indices ◽  
Glossogobius Giuris ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Boleophthalmus Dussumieri

Background: The fishes of family Gobiidae are one of the least studied fishes, especially for otolith structure. The otoliths were possess species specific features. Hence, traits of sagittal otolith of gobid species studied. Methods: Five gobid species Odontamblyopus roseus (Valenciennes, 1837), Trypauchen vagina (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822), Parachaeturichthys polynema (Bleeker, 1853) and Boleophthalmus dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1837) were investigated by three methods including morphological, shape indices and step wise discriminant function analysis (SDFA). Result: Interrelationship between shape indices investigated, at 95% level of confidence (P less than 0.05), revealed that perimeter of P. polynema and area of T. vagina have isometric growth with their length (b = 3.0071, 2.90, respectively) and otolith area of B. dussumieri have positive allometric growth (b = 4.23077). SDFA, based on otolith morphometry, discriminated species up with 97.18% accuracy. Hence, the results of present investigation can be used for discrimination of the species and as a tool in predicting fish size from the otoliths and in calculating the biomass of these less studied fish species.

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