Feeding ecology of Eigenmannia desantanai (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae) in southern Pantanal, Brazil

Abstract Aim This study investigated changes in the dietary composition and trophic niche breadth of Eigenmannia desantanai in the context of hydrological periods, rivers, and ontogeny. Methods Collections were performed monthly on the Paraguay and Amonguijá Rivers between February 2009 and January 2011. Results A total of 338 specimens of E. desantanai were collected, 224 of which came from the Amonguijá River and 114 from the Paraguay River. In all, 21 food items were identified. Fully remains of digested animals (RDA), Chironomidae, Cladocera, and Ostracoda showed greater importance in the diet of E. desantanai. Dietary composition was influenced by hydrological periods, followed by differences between sampled rivers, and ontogeny. In contrast, only hydrological periods explained variation in the E. desantanai trophic niche breadth. Conclusions The diet of E. desantanai is mainly composed of Chironomidae, Cladocera, and Ostracoda; however, individuals consumed other food items owing to changes in hydrological periods, followed by characteristics of the Amonguijá and Paraguay Rivers and ontogenetic variation. In this respect, the results of this study are germane to the food ecology of E. desantanai, providing guidelines for the management and conservation of the species.

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Feeding ecology of immature Lithodoras dorsalis (Valenciennes, 1840) (Siluriformes: Doradidae) in a tidal environment, estuary of the rio Amazonas

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/1982-0224-20130014 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 341-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Thiago Augusto Pedroso Barbosa ◽

Ronaldo Borges Barthem ◽

Luciano Fogaça de Assis Montag

Keyword(s):

Feeding Ecology ◽

Niche Breadth ◽

Transition Period ◽

Riparian Forest ◽

Dry Season ◽

Important Data ◽

Food Items ◽

Amazon Estuary ◽

Allochthonous Resources ◽

Tidal Area

Studies of feeding ecology are important for the evaluation of interactive processes in fish communities. This study evaluated the feeding ecology of Lithodoras dorsalis (Doradidae) from streams within the Amazon estuary delta (Brazil), a macro-tidal area, on different pluviometric periods. A total of 371 young specimens was collected during 12 months of sampling (July 2010 to June 2011). The species diet was composed of 28 food items analyzed by Repletion Index, Alimentary Index and Niche Breadth. Young L. dorsalis was classified as herbivore with a frugivory tendency due to the high importance of fruit and seeds in its diet. Food intake varied among sampled months, with the lowest intake being recorded during the rainy-dry season transition period, and the highest at the beginning of the dry season. The importance of food items and the composition of the diet were different throughout the year, probably due to the daily tides that allow fish to access new environments and the pluviometric periods. These results provide important data on the feeding ecology of Amazonian doradids. The study also emphasized the importance of allochthonous resources, derived from the riparian forest, which reinforces the importance of this habitat for the conservation of Neotropical freshwater fishes.

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Ontogenetic variation in the diet of the anuran community from a semi-arid environment in the southeastern Chihuahuan Desert

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7908 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e7908

Author(s):

Ricardo Luría-Manzano ◽

Aurelio Ramírez-Bautista

Keyword(s):

Arid Environment ◽

Sympatric Species ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Niche Width ◽

Ontogenetic Variation ◽

Dietary Composition ◽

Ontogenetic Changes ◽

Species Identity ◽

Predator Size ◽

Semi Arid

Although ontogeny influences dietary composition and trophic niche breadth in many anurans, its effects on diet have been little analyzed in sympatric species. In this study, we analyzed interspecific and ontogenetic variation in dietary composition and trophic niche width in an anuran community from a semi-arid environment. We found a more profound effect of species identity than body size on dietary composition, with the diet of four species dominated by formicids, that of two others by coleopterans and formicids, and that of the remaining species not dominated by specific prey types. We found ontogenetic changes in dietary composition in three of four species analyzed, in which consumption of some small insects decreased as predator size increased, regardless of species. Additionally, we did not find ontogenetic change in prey number consumed in any of the four species, but prey size increased with increasing predator size in all of them. Most species exhibited a narrow trophic niche, which was even narrower in adults in three of the four species analyzed. Costello’s modified plots revealed a high variation among individuals in termite consumption in Anaxyrus punctatus, and in more prey types in Spea multiplicata. Our results suggest that this community is not size-structured, and that ontogenetic diet shifts are mainly caused by passive sampling toward prey of different sizes. Finally, comparisons with previous data revealed an interpopulation pattern, in which trophic niche width contracts as aridity increases, possibly because of an increase in interspecific competition for trophic resources.

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Ecology of colonizing populations of the figfly Zaprionus indianus (Diptera, Drosophilidae) in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil

Iheringia Série Zoologia ◽

10.1590/s0073-47212005000300002 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 95 (3) ◽

pp. 233-240 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Norma Machado da Silva ◽

Carina da Conceição Fantinel ◽

Vera Lucia da Silva Valente ◽

Vitor Hugo Valiati

Keyword(s):

Niche Breadth ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Survival Strategies ◽

Porto Alegre ◽

Zaprionus Indianus ◽

Feeding Sites ◽

Substrate Choice ◽

Oviposition Substrate ◽

Feeding Substrate

Ecological parameters such as trophic niche overlap and niche breadth were computed from the frequency of all drosophilid species collected in 2001 and 2002, in the urban area of Porto Alegre city, Brazil. Independently of place, drosophilids community composition and components breeding or feeding sites, the highest frequencies of Zaprionus indianus (Gupta, 1970) were obtained during seasons with higher average temperatures, especially during summer. From a total of the 19,146 individuals of Z. indianus sampled, 80% were found in this season. The data of trophic niche breadth suggest a higher opportunism of adult flies in feeding substrate use, but the females are still selective in oviposition substrate choice. For the values of niche overlap, only for some species, did we find any correlation between these and species richness and/or number of resources, and the most of the correlation values considering breeding and feeding sites were positive. The colonization of Z. indianus in Porto Alegre could be leading to adjustments in the survival strategies of the resident species, but it is possible that many species have conditions for coexisting with the invader.

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Feeding ecology of Serrasalmus gouldingi (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in the lower Anapu River region, Eastern Amazon, Brazil

Acta Amazonica ◽

10.1590/1809-4392201600123 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 259-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Bruno da S. PRUDENTE ◽

Pedro CARNEIRO-MARINHO ◽

Roberta de M. VALENTE ◽

Luciano F. de A. MONTAG

Keyword(s):

Feeding Ecology ◽

Diet Composition ◽

Niche Breadth ◽

Life Stage ◽

Flood Pulse ◽

Feeding Intensity ◽

High Tendency ◽

Flood Season ◽

River Region ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Studies on feeding ecology of fishes are important to understand the relationship between species and environmental seasonal variations. In tropical rivers, these relationships are mainly modeled by hydrological patterns. Thereby, this study aimed to assess the influence of fluviometric variation and life stage (juveniles and adults) in the feeding ecology of Serrasalmus gouldingi in the lower Anapu River region, located in Eastern Amazon, Pará, Brazil. Specimens were collected bimonthly, considering four different hydrological periods. We assessed the diet composition, feeding intensity and niche breadth of the species. Thirty-two dietary items were identified and grouped into ten categories. A total of 279 stomachs were analyzed, showing a predominance of fish fragments, followed by fruits and seeds. The diet composition of S. gouldingi differed only between drought and flood season, although it did not differ between juveniles and adults. An increase in feeding intensity was recorded during the rise in the water level, with a lower feeding intensity observed during transitional season. Serrasalmus gouldingi showed lower niche breadth during flood season, attributed to the high consumption of fruits and seeds, presenting an omnivorous diet with high tendency towards piscivory. Although less evident than in other Amazon watersheds, the flood pulse in the lower Anapu River region is an important factor influencing the feeding ecology of the species.

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Isotopic paleoecology of the Pleistocene megamammals from the Brazilian Intertropical Region: Feeding ecology (δ13C), niche breadth and overlap

Quaternary Science Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.06.030 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 170 ◽

pp. 152-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Mário André Trindade Dantas ◽

Alexander Cherkinsky ◽

Hervé Bocherens ◽

Morgana Drefahl ◽

Camila Bernardes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Feeding Ecology ◽

Niche Breadth

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Trophic niche breadth of pond zooplankton species using stable isotope analysis and the relationship with the abiotic and biotic factors

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.180917 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 180917 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hideyuki Doi ◽

Kwang-Hyeon Chang ◽

Shin-ichi Nakano

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Niche Breadth ◽

Resource Competition ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Zooplankton Biomass ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Zooplankton Species ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Ecosystem Size ◽

The Relationship

Zooplankton species have different feeding habits, but the diversity of their food resources and the factors governing them are still largely unknown. We here estimated the differences in the trophic niche breadths of dominant zooplankton species in ponds, using stable isotopes. To understand the differences in trophic niches of different zooplankton species, we measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and calculated the nearest-neighbour distance (NND), and standard deviation of NND (SDNND) of the bi-plot space of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in pond zooplankton. We tested the relationship between the NND/SDNND and environmental factors, as well as the zooplankton biomass, using generalized linear models (GLMs). For cladocerans, including Bosmina, Ceriodaphnia and Daphnia, the NNDs were significantly correlated with the biomass, pond morphology (volume and depth), total phosphorous (TP) and fish presence. For copepod species, including Eodiaptomus and cyclopoids, NNDs were significantly correlated with pond morphology, TP and fish presence, but not with biomass. In GLMs of SDNND, significant correlated factors were less than those for NND, and for some species, pond morphology and TP were significantly correlated with SDNND. Here, we found that the NND and SDNND of zooplankton species were related to various factors, including their biomass, predator presence, pond size and water quality. For cladocerans, biomass may be supported by trophic niche breadth, probably because of the consequences of resource competition. Also, predation and ecosystem size may influence trophic niche breadth due to changes in zooplankton behaviours.

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Genetic evidence of population structuring in the neotropical freshwater fish Brycon hilarii (Valenciennes, 1850)

Brazilian Journal of Biology ◽

10.1590/s1519-69842007000500012 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 67 (4 suppl) ◽

pp. 889-895 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

A Sanches ◽

PM. Galetti Jr

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

River Basin ◽

Migratory Fish ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Paraguay River ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Population Structuring ◽

Different Seasons ◽

Initial Idea ◽

Management And Conservation

Brycon hilarii is a migratory fish widely distributed throughout the Paraguay River Basin. It is appreciated in sport fishing and for its superior meat quality. It is also the main species for tourist attraction in the Bonito region (State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil). Considering the lack of information on the genetic structure of the fish of this species, the aim of the present study was to detect the genetic variability of Brycon hilarii through RAPD markers. A total of eighty specimens collected in different seasons at four sites of the Miranda River sub-basin (Paraguay River Basin, Brazil) were used for analysis. The results of genetic similarity, Shannon diversity, and AMOVA revealed differences between the sampling sites. Through AMOVA, differences between populations were more evident among the animals collected during the non-reproductive season, corresponding to a time of less movement of these fish. A population structuring model in which B. hilarii appears organized into genetically differentiated reproductive units that coexist and co-migrate through the studied system was suggested, contrasting the currently accepted idea that freshwater migratory fish form large panmictic populations in a determined hydrographic system. Despite the lack of a complete picture regarding the distribution of B. hilarii in the studied region, this initial idea on its population genetic structure could be an important contribution to providing aid for management and conservation programs of these fish.

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Assessing the diet and trophic niche breadth of an omnivorous fish (Glanidium ribeiroi) in subtropical lotic environments: intraspecific and ontogenic responses to spatial variations

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf18149 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 70 (8) ◽

pp. 1116 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

B. C. K. Kliemann ◽

M. C. Baldasso ◽

S. F. R. Pini ◽

M. C. Makrakis ◽

S. Makrakis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Cover ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Niche Breadth ◽

Intraspecific Variability ◽

Niche Overlap ◽

Trophic Niche ◽

Main Channel ◽

Size Classes ◽

Intraspecific Variations ◽

Environmental Variations

The diet of Glanidium ribeiroi was investigated in lotic stretches downstream from a cascade of reservoirs to determine how it responds to intraspecific and environmental variations. Monthly sampling was performed from 2013 to 2016 at sites including the main channel of the Iguaçu River and tributaries in preserved basins and agricultural land. The diet of individuals in the preserved tributaries was primarily associated with allochthonous resources, whereas in the non-preserved tributaries and main channel the diets were primarily associated with autochthonous resources. Trophic niche breadth and intraspecific variability differed significantly among sampling areas and size classes. Trophic niche overlap among size classes and sampling areas was low. Positive and negative relationships between the trophic niche breadth and the standard length of individuals were also found in different sampling areas. Intraspecific and ontogenic variations were strongly and consistently associated with forest cover. Individuals responded differently to local environmental variations due to differences in landscape gradients and life cycle changes. Therefore, the effects of spatial heterogeneity on diet composition and intraspecific variations therein appear to be crucial to the success of the populations evaluated. These results may help with the implementation of conservation measures for this and other endemic species.

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Combined usage of stable isotopes and GPS-based telemetry to understand the feeding ecology of an omnivorous bird, the Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2013-0008 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 91 (10) ◽

pp. 689-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

É. Caron-Beaudoin ◽

M.-L. Gentes ◽

M. Patenaude-Monette ◽

J.-F. Hélie ◽

J.-F. Giroux ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Feeding Ecology ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Gps Tracking ◽

Food Items ◽

Larus Delawarensis ◽

Positive Correlations

The aim of the present study was to investigate the feeding ecology of an omnivorous bird, the Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis Ord, 1815), breeding in a highly urbanized and heterogeneous landscape (Montréal area, Quebec, Canada). We used gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract content analysis, GPS-based tracking information, and stable isotope profiles of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in selected tissues and major food items. Based on GPS tracking data (1–3 days), Ring-billed Gulls were categorized according to their use of three main foraging habitats: agricultural, St. Lawrence River, and anthropogenic (comprising urban areas, landfills, and wastewater treatment plant basins). Ring-billed Gulls that foraged predominantly in anthropogenic habitats exhibited significantly lower δ15N in blood cells and higher total C to N ratios (C:N) in liver. These lower δ15N and higher C:N ratios were characteristic of profiles determined in food items consumed by Ring-billed Gulls at these urbanized sites (e.g., processed foods). The strong positive correlations between δ13C and δ15N in Ring-billed Gull tissues (plasma, blood cells, and liver) that differed in isotopic turnover times, as well as the strong positive correlations in both δ13C and δ15N between tissue pairs, indicated that Ring-billed Gulls exhibited conserved dietary habits throughout the nesting period. This study demonstrates that combining conventional dietary examination, tissue stable isotope analysis, and fine-scale GPS tracking information may improve our understanding of the large intrapopulation variations in foraging behaviour (and isotopic profiles) commonly observed in omnivorous birds.

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