Feeding strategy and morphology as indicators of habitat use and coexistence of two loricariid fishes from a Brazilian coastal stream

Abstract: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between form and function of two Loricariidae species (Hypostomus punctatus and Parotocinclus maculicauda) from a Neotropical coastal stream. We performed morphological-dietary analysis and discussed their coexistence strategies, as well. We hypothesized that both species use similar food resources according to their morphology but differences in habitat use facilitate their coexistence. In order to test this hypothesis, morphology, diet and habitat use were analyzed for both species. Trophic variance and the Pianka Niche Overlap index were calculated to explore the differences in trophic niche. Correlations between species abundance and water flow were applied to test habitat use. Principal Component Analysis and one Permutational Multivariate Analysis of Variance were applied to test differences between morphology and diet of both species. Morphological-dietary relationships were tested with Mantel test correlations. Total abundance of H. punctatus was higher in the stream channel with higher water flow. The dominant food items were sediment and organic matter for both species, and high trophic niche overlap was revealed. Additionally, morphology did not explain feeding habits for both species. Morphological characteristics were significantly different, especially for intestine length, relative area of the dorsal fin, ventral flattening and mouth attributes. The study site was rich in sand sediment, mud, and clay that are not considered good substrates to the establishment and growing of periphyton, which is an important trophic resource to Loricariidae species. Here, low consumption of periphyton can provide a possible explanation for the feeding similarity and the weak morphological-dietary relationships for both species. Thus, the environmental conditions can be more important for diet composition when compared to the similar and specialized morphology of loricariids.

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Nymphal feeding habits of two Anacroneuria species (Plecoptera, Perlidae) from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia

Journal of Limnology ◽

10.4081/jlimnol.2018.1858 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 78 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yesely M. Hurtado ◽

Cesar E. Tamaris-Turizo ◽

Manuel J. López Rodriguez ◽

J. Manuel Tierno de Figueroa

Keyword(s):

Sierra Nevada ◽

Rainy Season ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Trophic Resources ◽

Tropical Areas ◽

Dry Seasons

The knowledge of the diet of aquatic insects is important to assess the use of resources and overlap of trophic niche between species, as well as to understand their role in the food web of the freshwater ecosystems they inhabit. This is particularly necessary in tropical areas where information on this topic is scarce. The aim of the present work is to describe the feeding habits of the species Anacroneuria marta Zúñiga and Stark, 2002 and Anacroneuria caraca Stark, 1995 in the middle section of the Gaira River (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia). We performed three samplings during the rainy and dry seasons in the two main different microhabitats of the reach (leaf packs and gravel) in 2014. The diet of a total of 87 and 90 individuals of A. caraca and A. marta, respectively, was studied. With this information, niche breadth for each species and niche overlap between them in terms of trophic resources were calculated. The main trophic resource for both species in the dry and rainy season was the animal matter. In the dry season, FPOM was also important in the diet of A. caraca, and A. marta ingested a great quantity of CPOM in the rainy season. Larvae of Trichoptera, were the most ingested prey in both species, followed by Chironomidae, Coleoptera Hydrophilidae, and Ephemeroptera. No differences in diet between both species were detected, so this could favor the niche overlap in terms of trophic resources and could lead to competition between them. The possible ecological scenarios are discussed.

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Feeding habits of feral domestic cats (Felis catus), wild cats (Felis silvestris) and their hybrids: trophic niche overlap among cat groups in Hungary

Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1017/s0952836905006771 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 266 (2) ◽

pp. 187-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 59

Author(s):

Zs. Biró ◽

J. Lanszki ◽

L. Szemethy ◽

M. Heltai ◽

E. Randi

Keyword(s):

Feeding Habits ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Felis Catus ◽

Felis Silvestris ◽

Domestic Cats ◽

Wild Cats

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Feeding habits of the Cichlid Chromidotilapia guntheri (Sauvage, 1882) in some hydrosystems of Ivory Coast

Aquatic Science and Technology ◽

10.5296/ast.v6i1.12511 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

Charles Koffi BOUSSOU ◽

Gustave N’guessan ALIKO ◽

Mexmin Koffi KONAN ◽

Felix Koffi KONAN

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Stomach Content ◽

Ivory Coast ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Feeding Strategy ◽

Stomach Content Analysis ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Feeding Habit ◽

Ontogenetic Shift ◽

It Practices

The feeding habit of Chromidotilapia guntheri was investigated in seven hydrosystems of Ivory Coast. The contents of 156 non-empty stomachs were examined from specimens caught in the rivers Soumié, Eholié, Noé, Ehania and Banco, the Bea rill and the Kpoda lake. Diets composition, feeding strategy and trophic niche width were analyzed among hydrosystems. Stomach content analysis indicated that C. guntheri feeds preferentially on plants and insects debris and secondarily, it consumed insects’ larvae, nymphs and adults in all habitats. This species would be an omnivorous with a detritivorous tendency. As feeding strategy, it practices a generalist strategy even if some individuals displayed specialization intentions on insects at different stages of metamorphosis. Investigations on ontogenetic shift revealed that juveniles and adults of C. guntheri consume substantially the same types of prey with varying amounts depending on the size of the fish. However there is a significant decrease in the proportions of gastropods and oligochaetes ingested when growing.

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Feeding habits of the spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus, (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Lutjanidae), in the central Gulf of California, BCS, Mexico

Acta Ichthyologica Et Piscatoria ◽

10.3897/aiep.51.63227 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 95-105

Author(s):

Filius L. Valle-Lopez ◽

Xchel G. Moreno-Sánchez ◽

Marina S. Irigoyen-Arredondo ◽

Leonardo A. Abitia-Cárdenas ◽

Emigdio Marín-Enríquez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of California ◽

Trophic Ecology ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Feeding Strategy ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Trophic Plasticity ◽

Important Prey ◽

Management Measures ◽

Reported Study ◽

Santa Rosalia

The spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869), is an important resource for the coastal fisheries of the Gulf of California, mainly due to its high commercial value. Despite this, there are no management measures for this species, owing in part to a lack of information on its basic biology and its trophic ecology in the area. In this context, the presently reported study had as objective to describe the feeding habits of L. guttatus through stomach content analyses, as well as to describe possible changes linked to sex, size, and season. Specimens were caught monthly from June 2016 to September 2017 with gillnets in Santa Rosalía, BCS, Mexico. The abundance, weight, and frequency of occurrence of each prey were assessed, and these parameters were integrated into the index of relative importance (%IRI) to determine the importance of each prey item in the L. guttatus diet. The Levin’s index was used to assess the trophic niche width of the species, the feeding strategy was evaluated using Costello’s graphic method and the trophic level was calculated. Finally, to establish whether there were significant differences in the diet by sex, size, or season a PERMANOVA test was used with a 95% confidence level. A total of 202 L. guttatus stomachs were analyzed, 191 of which contained food. A total of 26 prey items were identified. According to the %IRI, the most important prey were the teleost fishes Harengula thrissina (Jordan et Gilbert, 1882) (45.7%) and Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842) (34.8%), the euphausiid Nyctiphanes simplex (13.4%), and the crustacean Penaeus spp. (5.6%). The PERMANOVA analysis resulted in significant differences between the analyzed categories; however, there were no significant differences in the interactions among the categories. According to Levin’s index, L. guttatus had a narrow trophic width, with changes in the main prey consumed by the different categories. According to our results, L. guttatus can be considered a benthopelagic opportunistic carnivorous predator with a narrow trophic niche, presenting mostly quantitative variations in its diet according to sex, size, and season. Its trophic plasticity allows it to take advantage of the most available and abundant food resources.

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Feeding habits and trophic niche overlap between sympatric golden jackal (Canis aureus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Pannonian ecoregion (Hungary)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z06-147 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 84 (11) ◽

pp. 1647-1656 ◽

Cited By ~ 57

Author(s):

J. Lanszki ◽

M. Heltai ◽

L. Szabó

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Red Fox ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Lepus Europaeus ◽

Golden Jackal ◽

Canis Aureus

The feeding ecology of the golden jackal ( Canis aureus L., 1758) and its interspecific trophic relationship with the sympatric red fox (Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) was investigated in an area of recent range expansion of the golden jackal in Hungary, central Europe. Diet composition was determined by scat analysis (over 4 years: jackal 814 scats; fox 894 scats). Compared with jackals, foxes consumed more small mammals (mean biomass consumed: jackal 77%; fox 68%) and to a lesser extent plant matter (6% and 18%, respectively). The importance of other prey, such as wild boar ( Sus scrofa L., 1758), cervids, brown hare ( Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778), birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, and domestic animals, was minimal. Both mesocarnivores consumed primarily small animals (<50 g: 92% and 87%, respectively); this implies a typical searching and solitary hunting strategy. The trophic niche breadth of both species was very narrow and the fox proved to be more of a generalist. The food overlap index between the two canids was high (mean, 73%) and varied with the decreasing availability and consumption of small mammals. Based on prey remains found in scats, small-mammal specialization over a 2-year period and seasonal predation upon wild boar piglets (mainly by the jackal), seasonal fruit eating (mainly by the fox), and scavenging on wild or domestic ungulates (both predators) were found.

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Comparative analysis of diet composition and its relation to morphological characteristics in juvenile fish of three lutjanid species in a Mexican Pacific coastal lagoon

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/1982-0224-20170056 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Consuelo M. Aguilar-Betancourt ◽

Gaspar González-Sansón ◽

Juan R. Flores-Ortega ◽

Daniel Kosonoy-Aceves ◽

Gabriela Lucano-Ramírez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coastal Lagoon ◽

Body Shape ◽

Diet Composition ◽

Juvenile Fish ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Mexican Pacific ◽

Optimum Foraging ◽

General Diet

ABSTRACT The main goal of this research was to investigate the differences in diet composition among three species of the genus Lutjanus inhabiting a coastal lagoon as juveniles. The working hypothesis was that these species feed on a common base of food resources and therefore, some niche overlap is present in terms of general diet composition. However, changes in the trophic niche with size and differences in some morphological traits among species explain observed differences in diet. Fish were collected during 42 sampling trips conducted regularly from February 2011 to January 2012 using several types of fishing gear. Total number of analyzed stomachs was 288 for Lutjanus argentiventris from 2.3 to 19.9 cm total length (TL); 178 for Lutjanus colorado ranging from 2.4 to 30.1 cm TL; and 183 for Lutjanus novemfasciatus with 1.2 to 20.0 cm TL. Results indicate that juveniles of all three lutjanid species share a general diet based on decapods and fishes. However, L. novemfasciatus has a more piscivorous habit, which can be explained by a more slender body shape and larger teeth, characteristics, which increase fish catching performance. Larger fish of all three species eat larger prey, which is consistent with the optimum foraging theory.

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Dietary analysis of Homonota darwini (Squamata: Gekkonidae) in Northern Patagonia

Current Zoology ◽

10.1093/czoolo/56.4.406 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 406-410 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Marcelo E. Kun ◽

Carla Piantoni ◽

John D. Krenz ◽

Nora R. Ibargüengoytía

Keyword(s):

Feeding Strategy ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Principal Component ◽

Night Time ◽

Dietary Analysis ◽

Dietary Component ◽

Males And Females ◽

Dim Light ◽

Limit Energy ◽

Activity Times

Abstract Our study investigated the diet of the southernmost gecko in the world, Homonota darwini. Fifty-three specimens were captured during spring and summer in four locations in Patagonia, Argentina. The stomach contents of the specimens were identified, and we found that prey consisted of six main groups: Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Homoptera and Araneae, and the adults and larvae of moth Lepidoptera. Lepidoptera was the major dietary component. The presence of ants and moths as common prey suggests an ambush feeding strategy. In spring, females consumed more ants than males although no other dietary differences between males and females were evident. We found nine geckos with empty stomachs and six parasitized by nematodes. Presence of empty stomachs corroborates previous observations of other nocturnal geckos and non-gecko lizards. Reduced foraging success of nocturnal lizards could be due to difficulty in prey detection due to dim light, reduced or erratic activity of insect prey at night, or shorter activity times of geckos relative to diurnal success. Sex and season were not associated with the incidence of empty stomachs. Principal component analysis showed that four food alternatives correlated with season. The constraint of nocturnality, coupled with low night-time temperatures restricting feeding to only a few hours after sunset, appear to have caused a generality of diet which may limit energy acquisition. We conclude that H. darwini is an arthropod generalist and likely an ambush forager, as are many other nocturnal gekkonids.

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Feeding habits and trophic niche overlap of two sympatric mustelidae, the polecatMustela putorius and the beech martenMartes foina

Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft ◽

10.1007/bf02189692 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 217-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

A. Baghli ◽

E. Engel ◽

R. Verhagen

Keyword(s):

Feeding Habits ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche

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Spatial and trophic niche overlap between Diplodus bellottii and Diplodus vulgaris in the Tagus estuary, Portugal

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315404010033h ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 84 (4) ◽

pp. 837-842 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Manuel Horta ◽

Maria José Costa ◽

Henrique Cabral

Keyword(s):

Feeding Habits ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Sea Bream ◽

Tagus Estuary ◽

Otter Trawl ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Species Competition ◽

Competition For Space

To evaluate the consequences of the coexistence of the Senegal sea bream Diplodus bellottii with one other species of Diplodus, Diplodus vulgaris, in the Tagus estuary (Portugal), the distribution and feeding habits of juveniles and adults of both species were studied. Sampling took place between May 2001 and March 2002, in five zones, including the estuary and adjacent coastal area, using an otter trawl. Both species were abundant in the estuary and their distribution overlapped. The stomach contents analysis showed that the diet of both species was mainly composed of algae, bivalves and crustaceans. Diphodus bellottii and D. vulgaris showed a generalist feeding behaviour and were clearly omnivorous, being detected in a high trophic niche overlap between the two species. Competition for space and food may occur when densities are high and food became a limiting factor.

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