scholarly journals Superposición de la dieta del pez león Pterois volitans (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) con la de peces nativos de nivel trófico similar en Cuba

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura María Pantoja Echevarría ◽  
Pedro P. Chevalier Monteagudo ◽  
Delmis Cabrera Guerra ◽  
Raúl Igor Corrada Wong ◽  
Dorka Cobián Rojas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
History Of ◽  
Competition For Food ◽  
Native Fishes ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Mantel Correlations

The spread of the Indo-Pacific lionfish has been one of the most rapid marine fish invasions in the history of the tropical and subtropical western Atlantic, and populations of this species pose a threat to native fishes feeding at similar trophic levels due to competition for food. To determine dietary overlap, 899 lionfish and 377 native fishes of the families Haemulidae, Holocentridae, Serranidae and Lutjanidae were caught in three Cuban localities, and their stomach contents were analyzed based on the number of items, frequency, volume and index of relative importance. Diet composition was similar in the studied localities; Lutjanidae, Serranidae and lionfish mainly fed on fish while Haemulidae and Holocentridae primarily consumed small benthic invertebrates. Mantel correlations showed that the consumption of fish and crustaceans did not increase as lionfish increased in size. The degree of dietary overlap between lionfish and some native fishes depends on locality, ecological zone and the characteristics of each family, confirming the opportunistic nature of the invader. It is likely that native fishes are not affected by competition with lionfish for food because they feed on the mostabundant and available organisms; therefore, food availability is not a limiting factor for these groups.

scholarly journals Diet of a bromeligenous species of treefrog in the Brazilian semiarid

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Souza de Oliveira ◽  
André Teixeira da Silva ◽  
Juliana Zina
Keyword(s):  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Transition Zones ◽  
Anuran Species ◽  
Brazilian Semiarid ◽  
Temporal Differentiation ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
History Of ◽  
Central South

Abstract Phyllodytes tuberculosus is a bromeligenous anuran species whose geographic distribution is restricted to areas of the Caatinga and to transition zones between Caatinga and Atlantic Forest in the central-south of the state of Bahia. Its existence in close relationship with bromeliads and its occurrence in dry and highly seasonal environments drove us to the supposition that species is opportunistic/generalist regard to diet. We collected the items present in the stomach of 43 P. tuberculosus individuals with stomach-flushing method. Of these, 18 stomach contents were obtained during the dry period (April–October), and 25 during the rainy period (November–March). We recorded nine classes of prey, finding the greatest relative importance for the categories Formicidae and Coleoptera in dry season and Blattodea (Termites), Formicidae and Coleoptera in the rainy season. Phyllodytes tuberculosus presented a varied, possibly opportunistic diet in semiarid environments. Additionally, we report an apparent temporal differentiation related to the typical Caatinga seasonality. This study adds to the data on the natural history of an anuran species adapted to a semiarid environment with a narrow geographic distribution.

scholarly journals A new species of pygmy Paroctopus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): the smallest southwestern Atlantic octopod, found in sea debris

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana S. Leite ◽  
Erica A.G. Vidal ◽  
Françoise Dantas Lima ◽  
Sergio M.Q. Lima ◽  
Ricardo M Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Bayesian Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Novel Habitat ◽  
In Situ Observations ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
A New Species

Abstract The new species, Paroctopus cthulu sp. nov. Leite, Haimovici, Lima and Lima, was recorded from very shallow coastal waters on sandy/muddy and shelter-poor bottoms with natural and human-origin debris. It is a small octopus, adults are less than 35 mm mantle length (ML) and weigh around 15 g. It has short to medium sized arms, enlarged suckers on the arms of both males and females, large posterior salivary glands (25 %ML), a relatively large beak (9 % ML) and medium to large mature eggs (3.5 to > 9 mm). The characteristics of hatchlings of two brooding females, some of their anatomical features, and in-situ observations of their behaviour are a clue to the life history of it and closely related pygmy octopuses. The Bayesian phylogenetic analysis showed that Paroctopus cthulu sp.nov. specimens grouped in a well-supported clade of Paroctopus species, separate from P.joubini and P. cf mercatoris from the Northwestern Atlantic . The description of this new species, living in a novel habitat of human debris in shallow water off Brazil, offered an opportunity not only to evaluate the relationship among the small octopuses of the western Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific, but also their adaptation to the Anthropocene period.

scholarly journals Urban manta rays: potential manta ray nursery habitat along a highly developed Florida coastline

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 51-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Pate ◽  
AD Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Nursery Habitat ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Photo Identification ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Site ◽  
Manta Ray

The giant oceanic manta ray Mobula birostris was listed in the US Endangered Species Act as a threatened species in 2018, yet insufficient data exist on manta populations throughout US waters to designate critical habitat. Taxonomic and genetic evidence suggests that manta rays in the Western Atlantic are a separate species (M. cf. birostris) and little is understood about the ecology and life history of this putative species. The juvenile life stage of both M. birostris and M. cf. birostris is particularly understudied. Here, we are the first to describe the characteristics of a manta ray population along a highly developed coastline in southeastern Florida using boat-based surveys and photo identification of individuals. Fifty-nine manta individuals were identified between 2016 and 2019. All males were sexually immature based on clasper development, and 96% of females were classified as immature based on size and absence of mating scars or visible pregnancies. Twenty-five (42%) individuals were observed more than once during the study period and 8 individuals were sighted over multiple years. The occurrence of juveniles, high site fidelity and extended use of the study area by juvenile manta rays suggest that southeastern Florida may serve as a nursery habitat. High occurrence of fishing line entanglement (27% of individuals) and vessel strike injury were documented, and rapid wound healing was observed. Future research and conservation efforts will focus on identifying the physical and biological features of the potential nursery habitat and on mitigation of anthropogenic impacts.

The Comparative Feeding Ecology of Six Species of Shark and Four Species of Ray (Elasmobranchii) In The North-East Atlantic

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R. Ellis ◽  
M.G. Pawson ◽  
S.E. Shackley
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
East Atlantic ◽  
Dietary Breadth ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Commercial Species

The stomach contents of ten species of elasmobranch from the north-eastern Atlantic indicate that most are generalist predators, eating a variety of polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and teleosts. Two species, Mustelus asterias and Squatina scjuatina were found to be specialist feeders, consuming portunid crabs and pleuronectids, respectively. Measures for both dietary breadth and dietary overlap are given and the implications of elasmobranch predation on the prey communities and on commercial species are discussed.

Early Life History of Fishes in the San Francisco Estuary and Watershed

2004 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Larval Rearing ◽  
Restored Wetlands ◽  
Marsh Edge ◽  
Reference Marsh ◽  
History Of ◽  
Native Fishes

<em>Abstract.</em>—We examined the spatial and temporal variability of native and alien ichthyoplankton in three habitat types (marsh edge, shallow open-water, and river channel) in one reference and three restored marshes in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, California, during 1998 and 1999. More than 6,700 fish embryos and 25,000 larvae represented by 10 families were collected in 240 tows during the 2-year study. Overall, the assemblage was dominated by alien fishes, but natives were more abundant during winter and spring, whereas aliens were more abundant during summer. Overall abundance was highest in marsh edge habitats, suggesting that this habitat provides favorable larval rearing habitats for many fishes. The reference marsh was dominated by alien species making it difficult to assess whether it had attributes that promoted use by native fish. Ichthyoplankton abundance varied comparably at restored sites of similar configuration. The restored site, with minimal tidal exchange and greater lower trophic productivity, supported the highest densities of alien fish. We conclude that restoration projects in this region of the estuary must consider the potential impacts of alien fishes on natives and evaluate strategies designed to improve recruitment success of native fishes. Specifically, we suggest that restored wetlands that offer only winter and spring inundation periods may provide maximum benefits to natives while limiting access by many alien fishes regardless of specific habitat-use requirements.

Morphological and phylogenetic study of the Western Atlantic Crepidula plana complex (Caenogastropoda, Calyptraeidae), with description of three new species from Brazil

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1112 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUIZ RICARDO L. SIMONE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Good Resolution ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Informal Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
History Of ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Good Number

A detailed morphological study was performed in the following species of Crepidula: 1) C. margarita new species from Venezuela; 2) C. plana Say, 1822; 3) C. atrasolea Collin, 2000; 4) C. depressa Say, 1822, from Florida, USA; 5) C. pyguaia, new species from Santa Catarina coast, Brazil; 6) C. carioca, new species from Rio de Janeiro coast, Brazil. Additionally, five other species anatomically studied in Simone (2002) were also included: 7) C. argentina Simone, Pastorino & Penchaszadeh, 2000, from Argentina; 8) C. glauca Say, 1822, from Venezuela; 9) C. fornicata (Linné, 1758), from Mediterranean and Florida; 10) C. protea Orbigny, from S.E. Brazil; 11) C. aff. plana, here described as C. intratesta new species, from S.E. Brazil; 12) C. cachimilla Cledón Simone & Penchaszadeh, 2004, from Patagonia. The 46 characters (106 states) for these species were phylogenetically analyzed and a single cladogram was obtained (length: 93, CI: 65; RI: 64) as follows: (Crepidula cachimilla (C. argentina ((C. carioca C. pyguaia) ((C. fornicata (C. intratesta C. protea)) ((C. glauca C. margarita) (C. plana (C. atrasolea C. depressa))))))). Two outgroups were used: Bostrycapulus aculeatus (Gmelin, 1791), which most authors consider a Crepidula (operationally analyzed as part of the ingroup), and the remaining calyptraeoideans studied by the author. The monophyly of the ingroup is confirmed, supported by 25 morphological synapomorphies. Although the ingroup is fully resolved, no clades are formally named, because the phylogeny is still considered provisional. Most studied species belong to an informal group called “Crepidula plana-complex”, but it is not monophyletic, since C. fornicata, which does not belong to this complex, is part of the ingroup. This study demonstrates that detailed morphological data are useful in phylogenetic studies even at the level of closely related/sibling species, resulting in cladogram with good resolution and a good number of shared, analyzable characters. A biogeographic analysis is also performed considering the distribution of each species under the light of the obtained cladogram, a clear ascension from south to north is the main pattern of the evolutionary history of these species. Further comments on the systematics of Crepidula aplysioides Reeve and C. convexa Say is also performed.

Invaders induce coordinated isotopic niche shifts in native fish species

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 1348-1358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane S. Rogosch ◽  
Julian D. Olden
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Isotopic Niche ◽  
Mesopredator Release ◽  
Native Fishes

Food-web investigations inform management strategies by exposing potential interactions between native and nonnative species and anticipating likely outcomes associated with species removal efforts. We leveraged a natural gradient of compositional turnover from native-only to nonnative-only fish assemblages, combined with an intensive removal effort, to investigate underlying food-web changes in response to invasive species expansion in a Lower Colorado River tributary. Nonnative fishes caused coordinated isotopic niche displacement in native fishes by inducing resource shifts toward lower trophic positions and enriched carbon sources. By contrast, nonnative fishes did not experience reciprocal shifts when native fishes were present. Asymmetrical outcomes between native and nonnative fishes indicated species displacement may result from competitive or consumptive interactions. Native species’ isotopic niches returned to higher trophic levels after nonnative green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) removal, indicating removal efforts can support trophic recovery of native fishes like desert suckers (Catostomus clarkii) and roundtail chub (Gila robusta). Using stable isotope analysis in preremoval assessments provides opportunities to identify asymmetric interactions, whereas postremoval assessments could identify unintended consequences, like mesopredator release, as part of adaptive decision making to recover native fishes.

scholarly journals Mobulid rays feed on euphausiids in the Bohol Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 161060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph A. Rohner ◽  
Katherine B. Burgess ◽  
Joshua M. Rambahiniarison ◽  
Joshua D. Stewart ◽  
Alessandro Ponzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Fishing Activity ◽  
Prey Preferences ◽  
Manta Birostris ◽  
History Of ◽  
By Catch ◽  
Mobula Japanica

Mobulid rays have a conservative life history and are caught in direct fisheries and as by-catch. Their subsequent vulnerability to overexploitation has recently been recognized, but fisheries management can be ineffective if it ignores habitat and prey preferences and other trophic interactions of the target species. Here, we assessed the feeding ecology of four mobulids ( Manta birostris , Mobula tarapacana , M. japanica , M. thurstoni ) in the Bohol Sea, Philippines, using stomach contents analysis of fisheries specimens landed between November and May in 2013–2015. We show that the mobulids feed heavily on euphausiid krill while they are in the area for approximately six months of the year. We found almost no trophic separation among the mobulid species, with Euphausia diomedeae as the major prey item for all species, recorded in 81 of 89 total stomachs (91%). Mobula japanica and M. thurstoni almost exclusively had this krill in their stomach, while M. tarapacana had a squid and fish, and Ma. birostris had myctophid fishes and copepods in their stomachs in addition to E. diomedeae . This krill was larger than prey for other planktivorous elasmobranchs elsewhere and contributed a mean of 61 364 kcal per stomach (±105 032 kcal s.e., range = 0–631 167 kcal). Our results show that vertically migrating mesopelagic species can be an important food resource for large filter feeders living in tropical seas with oligotrophic surface waters. Given the conservative life history of mobulid rays, the identification of common foraging grounds that overlap with fishing activity could be used to inform future fishing effort.

Studies on the Ecology of the New Zealand Long-finned Eel, Anguilla dieffenbachii Gray

1952 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMR Burnet
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Mathematical Analysis ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Baited Traps ◽  
Anguilla Dieffenbachii

Experimental trapping of eels, using carrion-baited traps, was carried out on a number of rivers of various types throughout New Zealand. Where possible, a mathematical analysis has been applied to the trapping results and an estimate of the efficiency obtained. Total trappable population densities of between 30 and 1,368 lb./ac. Were found. An attempt has been made to correlate type of river with the population density. The amount of cover present is apparently the limiting factor. The baited trap takes very few eels of less than 24 in. long and is thus not a very efficient means of keeping a stream free from eels. The feeding habits of the eel are generalized and readily adaptable to most faunas. In most rivers trout occurred only infrequently in the stomach contents.

scholarly journals Identification guide to the shallow water (0–200 m) octocorals of the South Atlantic Bight

Zootaxa ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2599 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
SUSAN T. DEVICTOR ◽  
STEVE L. MORTON
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
South Atlantic ◽  
South Atlantic Bight ◽  
The South ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Identification Guide ◽  
Cape Hatteras ◽  
History Of

Octocoral diversity is well documented in the tropical western Atlantic and Indo–Pacific, but it has been several decades since a thorough species account of the shallow South Atlantic Bight region was produced (northwestern Atlantic between Cape Hatteras, NC and Cape Canaveral, FL, USA). Through the use of material from the NMNH and SERTC Octocorallia (=Alcyonaria) collections, this work documents the presence of 28 species of octocorals recorded in the shallow (0–200 m) South Atlantic Bight and reports five new range extensions. Included are illustrated keys to the species, synonymies, species images and remarks, and SEM images of sclerites from described species without previously published sclerite imagery. A brief history of previous work and discussion of octocoral morphology are also included.

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