Feeding habit and food partitioning in a stream fish community of Western Ghats,India

The diet and feeding ecology of 12 cyprinid fishes were studied in the Thalayanai stream of southern India. The diet of Barbodes sarana, Danio aequipinnatus and Rasbora daniconius were specialized in terrestrial and aquatic insects. Hypselobarbus dobsoni and Garra mullya consumed vegetative matter and unicellular algae as their most important dietary component, respectively. Hypselobarbus curmuca and Hypselobarbus dubius specialized in crustaceans and molluscs. Puntius amphibious, Puntius bimaculatus, Puntius dorsalis, Puntius filamentosus and Puntius tambraparniei fed on variety of food resources (aquatic insects, algae and detritus) and their feeding intake varied between wet to dry seasons. Levin’s index of diet breadth showed the broadest diets for P. dorsalis in both seasons, whereas G. mullya had a narrow feeding spectrum in both seasons. Among co-existing species, diet overlaps were substantially low during both wet and dry season. These results suggest that feeding specialization and low diet overlap reduce inter-specific competition, allowing co-existence of these cyprinid fishes in this highly structured stream assemblage.     

Low Fish Predation Pressure in the London Reservoirs: I. Species Composition,Density and Biomass

The London reservoirs sited in the lower Thames valley form part of a continuously flowing, drinking water supply system and as such have been wholly designed, constructed and operated by man for this sole function. This paper adds some information on the potential impact of the fish populations on the ecology of these relatively deep reservoirs. The fish fauna was studied by night shore seining (to detect inshore fish communities) and acoustically (to detect the offshore fish communities). Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) are the main species capable of reproduction on the steeply sloping concrete walls of the reservoirs. Cyprinids are almost absent in Wraysbury Reservoir whilst in Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth II reservoirs they are more abundantly represented due to enhanced spawning possibilities associated with inundated marginal terrestrial plants in Queen Mary and the net-sides of empty fish cages in Queen Elizabeth II reservoir. Fish biomasses of the three London reservoirs studied are low: 6.8 kg/ha in Wraysbury Reservoir, 28.6 kg/ha in Queen Mary reservoir and 45.6 kg/ha in Queen Elizabeth II Reservoir. Coinciding with this is a zooplankton of unusually large-sized cladocerans, largely daphnids, and high fish growth rates.     

Seasonal variations in food resource partitioning among four sympatric gudgeon species in the upper Yangtze River

Knowledge of food resource partitioning among sympatric fish species is crucial for understanding the potential mechanisms of species coexistence. Gudgeons (Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Gobioninae) often dominate fish assemblages in the upper Yangtze River. However, little research has been conducted on their trophic interactions. In this paper, seasonal diet and feeding strategy variations of four sympatric gudgeon species, Coreius guichenoti, Coreius heterodon, Rhinogobio ventralis, and Rhinogobio cylindricus, were investigated by analysis of intestinal tract contents, aiming to explore whether food resource partitioning occurred among them. Fish specimens were collected during spring (April–May) and autumn (August–October) in 2010 in Hejiang, a free‐flowing stretch of the upper Yangtze River. Coreius guichenoti, C. heterodon, and R. cylindricus showed omnivorous feeding habits, while R. ventralis exhibited an obligate carnivore feeding habit. Diet overlap among the four studied species was high, especially in spring. However, changes in feeding strategies were observed in autumn. Specifically, C. guichenoti and R. cylindricus expanded their dietary niche breadth and consumed detritus, Sinopotamidae or Hydropsychidae as important complementary food resources. In contrast, C. heterodon and R. ventralis reduced their dietary niche breadth and became more specialized on mussels (Limnoperna lacustris). These results confirmed that sympatric fish species can coexist with high diet overlap, and food resource partitioning among these species may also fluctuate with the seasons.     

黄山陈村水库上游河源溪流的鱼类群落及其纵向梯度格局

确定鱼类群落的分布格局及其对人类活动的响应,是合理保护、恢复和管理鱼类多样性的基础。基于2011年5月和10月自黄山陈村水库上游3条河源溪流共39个样点的调查数据,比较研究了溪流间鱼类群落及其纵向梯度格局的异同,着重探讨了人类活动对溪流鱼类群落纵向梯度格局的影响。研究结果显示,同人为干扰较轻的舒溪相比,人为干扰严重的浦溪和麻溪中水宽、底质和植被覆盖率等局域栖息地条件显著变化,这造成了后者的鱼类多样性显著下降及物种组成的显著变化,主要表现为敏感性的地方物种(如宽鳍鱲、光唇鱼、原缨口鳅等)数量减少、耐受性的广布物种(如泥鳅、麦穗鱼、高体鰟鲏等)数量增多。舒溪的鱼类物种数及其组成均与海拔显著相关,但这种"海拔-鱼类群落"关系在麻溪和浦溪中削弱甚至消失。底质、植被覆盖率对舒溪鱼类群落具有重要影响,但对浦溪和麻溪鱼类群落却无显著影响。研究结果表明,在子流域空间尺度上,诸如城镇化发展、土地利用、河道治理等人类活动可通过对局域栖息地条件的影响,导致溪流鱼类多样性下降及其物种组成的变化,破坏鱼类群落的纵向梯度格局,并改变栖息地与鱼类群落之间的联系。     

Food habits of fishes in azostera marina bed at aburatsubo, central japan

To clarify the feeding habits of seagrass fishes, the gut contents of 31 fish species collected in aZostera marina bed at Aburatsubo central Japan, were examined. Ontogenetic changes in food preference were recognized in 12 species. In general, juveniles of the latter preyed mainly on small crustaceans (e.g., gammaridean amphipods) or planktonic animals (e.g., calanoid and cyclopoid copepods), subsequently changing to other prey items (e.g., hard-shelled animals) with growth. Cluster analysis based on dietary overlaps showed that the seagrass fish assemblage comprised seven feeding guilds (small-crustacean, planktonic-animal, large-crustacean, polychaete, fish, hard-shelled mollusc and detritus feeders). Of these, small-crustacean feeders and planktonic-animal feeders were the most abundantly represented, including juveniles of several species, which, when adult, transferred to other feeding guilds. On the other hand detritivores were represented by a single species.     

Extent and role for fish populations of riverine ecotones along the Sinnamary river (French Guiana)

The Sinnamary is a small tropical river (250 km long, watershed of 6500 km²) where a dam is to be impounded in 1994.The extent of naturally periodically flooded areas along the Sinnamary river is estimated by using remote sensing (Landsat TM satellite data) and botanical groupings are described on in situ observations, ground truth and collections. The fish assemblages of these areas are described and their density estimated by rotenone sampling. The role of this ecotone to fish populations is discussed.The extent of the inundated areas appears to be greater than previously estimated by classical mapping.As expected, the fish fauna is mostly composed of fish juveniles and adults of dwarf (< 3 cm) and small (< 15 cm) species. Large predators where not found. Due to these characteristics, fish are abundant but their biomass is low in naturally inundated areas. However, juveniles of some species found only in these zones. Therefore their adult populations will probably be very sensitive to any modification of these land/water ecotones.     

The feeding habits of a group of herbivorous rock-dwelling cichlid fishes (Cichlidae: Perciformes) from Lake Malawi,Africa

Synopsis The feeding; habits of a group of tropical herbivorous rock-dwelling cichlid fishes from Lake Malawi, Africa, are investigated using stomach content analyses. The various species fed selectively on the periphyton of the rocky shores. Blue-green alga of the genus Calothrix was the most common item ingested by the group. Diatoms (Chrysophyta) also were abundant food items. Discriminant analysis showed that dietary items were good variables to identify species. Interspecific dietary differences showed a continuum from those species feeding primarily on Calothrix to those feeding primarily on diatoms. Algal resources exhibit distinct patterns of spatial variation. Diet was correlated with foraging behavior and trophic morphology. Interspecific differences in diet could possibly facilitate ecological coexistence among various species. Such coexistence would contribute to the maintenance of the high diversity fish faunas characteristic of the Great Rift Lakes of Africa.     

Spatial and seasonal patterns of fish assemblages in mountain streams of the Ren River,southwest China

The spatial–temporal patterns of fish assemblages in lotic systems can provide useful information in developing effective conservation measures. This study aimed to explore the spatial and seasonal changes in fish assemblages and their association with environmental factors in mountain streams of the Ren River, southwest China. Field investigations were conducted at 18 sites during the rainy and dry seasons in 2017. A total of 1,330 individuals, belonging to three orders, eight families, 19 genera, and 21 species, were collected. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed that the structure of fish assemblages varied significantly at the spatial scale, but not at the seasonal scale. In low‐order sites, fish assemblages were mainly dominated by cold‐water and rheophilic species (e.g., Rhynchocypris oxycephalus, Scaphesthes macrolepis, Metahomaloptera omeiensis, and Gnathopogon herzensteini), while those in high‐order sites were predominated by warm‐water and eurytopic or stagnophilic species (e.g., Squalidus argentatus, Hemiculter leucisculus, and Zacco platypus). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the fish assemblages were structured by a combination of large‐scale landscape factors (e.g., altitude and C‐link) and small‐scale habitat features (e.g., channel width, water temperature, and depth). Among these factors, landscape had the greatest influence on fish assemblages, while local habitat variables were less important or were only significant in certain seasons.     

Seasonal variation in the composition of fish assemblages in small Amazonian forest streams: evidence for predictable changes

1. The effects of seasonal inundation on the biology of fishes on floodplains of large Amazonian rivers are well studied. However, the small seasonal changes in headwater streams are generally considered to have little effect on fish assemblages. 2. In this study, we analysed seasonal changes in the species composition and abundance of fish in small Amazonian forest streams. We sampled fish with hand and seine nets in headwater streams in a 10 000 ha terra‐firme forest reserve near Manaus, Brazil. Each stream was surveyed at the end of the 2005 dry season, at the beginning of the 2006 rainy season and at the beginning of the 2006 dry season, by means of a standardized sampling effort. 3. The numbers of individuals and species caught were higher in the dry season, but rarefaction analyses indicated that greater species numbers could have been due simply to the larger number of individuals caught. 4. Between the dry and rainy season, the direction of changes in species composition in multivariate space varied among sites, especially for quantitative (abundance) data. However, the observed variation among sites was the less than expected if the directions of change were random. 5. Fish assemblages in the second dry season were more similar to those in the previous dry season than expected if changes in species composition among seasons were random. This indicates that a general seasonal pattern in fish assemblages can be detected, despite the existence of some erratic site‐specific changes. 6. Most of the species that showed large seasonal variations in density occupy temporary ponds during the rainy season, when much of the valley is inundated and pond networks form adjacent to streams. Short‐duration lateral migrations to these ponds may play an important role in the seasonal fish‐assemblage dynamics in Amazonian headwater streams. 7. Our results contrast with previous studies on small Amazonian streams, which have found little seasonal change in fish assemblages, and highlight the importance of the abundance of common species as an indicator of general fish assemblage structure in biological monitoring programmes.     

Piscivory does not cause pansteatitis (yellow fat disease) in Oreochromis mossambicus from an African subtropical reservoir

相似文献   

Toxicity and bioaccumulation of chromium in some freshwater fish

Chromium (Cr) is a common pollutant of freshwater bodies in India, and is frequently detected in high concentrations in edible fish. Bioassays were carried out in the laboratory to determine acute the toxicity and pattern of accumulation of Cr in three species of freshwater fish. The 96-h LC₅₀ value of Cr for Labeo bata, Puntius sarana, and Catla catla was found respectively as 7.33, 10.37, and 31.61 mg/L. Concentrations of Cr in water, sediments, and fish, during a period of 28 d of exposure to 0, 0.73, and 2.19 mg/L of Cr, varied with exposure period, concentration of Cr, presence of weed, and species of fish exposed. Polynomial regressions obtained by drawing polynomial curves revealed that the aquatic weed Eichhornia crassipes prevented gradual decrease of Cr concentrations in water, but reduced the accumulation of Cr in L. bata and Catla catla. However, the effect of the weed on Puntius sarana was not apparent. The pattern of Cr deposition on sediments was also inconsistent. To explain interactions between environment and fish in a very precise manner, polynomial and multiple regression curves were simultaneously used. When polynomial curves were replaced by multiple regression curves, it was revealed that the aquatic weed E. crassipes could reduce Cr accumulation in Puntius sarana also.     

Food resource utilization partitioning of fifteen fish species at Bukit Merah Reservoir,Malaysia

Statistical and mathematical models have been used to measure the subtle differences in food resources utilisation of fifteen (15) fish species at Bukit Merah Reservoir, Malaysia. The models employed are niche breadth, dietary overlap indices and discriminant analysis. A diet measure based on the relative importance index of food items was used for the analysis, to correct for biases of the single indices consisting of the volumetric, numerical and occurrence frequency. Niche breadth (B_i) indicating the diversity or breadth of the food resource gradient utilized by a fish classifies species as generalized feeders (B_i > 4.5), intermediate and specialized feeders (B_i < 2). Niche overlap (O_ij) quantifying the sharing of food resource between two species varies from 0.07 to 0.81 and describes high dietary overlap (O_ij > 0.60) for most fish at the reservoir; but Trichogaster pectoralis (Anabantidae) feeding on the plankton shows relatively low dietary overlap. A scatter plot and a territorial map of the discriminatory analysis on the dietary composition result in combination an objective basis for trophic classification of the fish community, and describe (1) Osteochilus hasselti and Puntius gonionotus as herbivores, (2) Oxyeleotris marmorata, Clarias batrachus, Ophicephalus striatus, Mystus planicep, and presumably Wallago leerii and Hampala macrolepidota as carnivores, (3) Puntius schwanenfeldii, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, and presumably Labiobarbus festiva as detritivores, (4) Notopterus notopterus as a generalist, and (5) Trichogaster pectoralis as a planktivore. This multivariate analysis is relatively superior to the traditional subjective method for trophic classification and discerning subtle differences objectively, though intermingling occur.     

Ontogenetic and seasonal feeding habits of the annular seabream (Diplodus annularis L.) in Zostera sp. beds, eastern Adriatic Sea

The ontogenetic and seasonal feeding habits of 489 individuals of Diplodus annularis L. in Zostera sp. beds were studied using frequency of occurrence, numeric percentage, percentage by weight and an index of relative importance (IRI). The Schoener overlap index was used to compare diets by fish size and seasons. Diet composition including 18 different prey taxa was evidently heterogenous among annular seabream size groups, with no significant dietary overlap. In relation to body size, juveniles were omnivorous and preferred algae and plants, while adults were omnivorous and preferred animals. Principal prey items by decreasing importance were Chlorophyta (dominant taxa Cladophora sp. and Enteromorpha flexuosa), Decapoda (dominant species Upogebia pusilla), Gastropoda (important species Rissoa ventricosa and Alvania sp.), Bivalvia and Spermatophyta, as well as other food items (mostly unidentified Crustacea and fish eggs). Differences in diets among seasons were not significant.     

Food habits of fishes on an exposed sandy beach at Fukiagehama,South-West Kyushu Island,Japan

To clarify the feeding habits and major food sources of sandy beach fishes, the gut contents of 55 fish species collected on a sandy beach at Fukiagehama, South-West Kyushu Island, Japan, were examined. Ontogenetic changes in food preference were recognized in nine species (Hypoatherina valenciennei, Lateolabrax japonicus, Trachurus japonicus, Sillago japonica, Sphyraena japonica, Paralichthys olivaceus, Heteromycteris japonica, Paraplagusia japonica, and Takifugu niphobles). A cluster analysis based on dietary overlaps showed that the sandy beach fish assemblage comprised six trophic groups (mysid, amphipod, zooplankton, juvenile fish, terrestrial insect, and mollusk feeders). Of these, the first three groups were the most abundantly represented, whereas the last two were represented by only a single species. These results indicated that epibenthic macrofauna, such as mysids and gammaridean amphipods, and zooplankton, were important food resources for the fish assemblage at the study site, but infaunal macrobenthos, such as polychaetes and bivalves, being relatively unimportant.     

Temporal changes in fish diversity in lotic and lentic environments along a reservoir cascade

相似文献   

Ontogenetic niche shifts and resource partitioning in a subarctic piscivore fish guild

The feeding ecology of three piscivorous fish species (perch (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius) and burbot (Lota lota)), was studied in the subarctic Pasvik watercourse (69 °N), northern Norway and Russia. All three species primarily occupied the benthic habitats in the watercourse. Perch and burbot exhibited distinct ontogenetic niche shifts in food resource use, perch changing from a dominance of zooplankton to zoobenthos to fish, and burbot from zoobenthos to fish. Fish prey dominated the diet of all the investigated size-classes of pike, but small-sized pike (<20 cm) were not represented in the sample. Fish prey size was positively related to predator size in all three species. Whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus) was the dominant prey of pike and large-sized burbot and perch. Nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) was also an important prey and appeared to be a dietary stepping-stone enhancing the transition from invertebrate feeding to consumption of large-sized whitefish prey for all three predators. A cluster analysis separated the different size groups of the three predator species into five functional feeding groups, most of them containing two or all three species. Within these feeding groups, and especially among the piscivorous size-classes, there was a strong and significant interspecific overlap in prey selection, and the dietary similarities between the species were in general much larger than the intraspecific similarities between ontogenetic stages. All three piscivorous species are important top predators in the aquatic food web of the watercourse, and their ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning patterns generate a substantial food web complexity in this subarctic ecosystem.     

Upstream effects of a reservoir on fish assemblages 45 years following impoundment

Fish assemblage structure, rarefied species richness, species diversity and evenness of assemblages upstream of a reservoir in Oklahoma, U.S.A., were compared pre and post‐impoundment as well as in contemporary collections from streams above and below the reservoir. There were significant shifts in assemblage structure between historical and contemporary collections above the reservoir but not between contemporary assemblages above and below the impoundment. Indicator species analysis revealed that the sand shiner Notropis stramineus and fathead minnow Pimephales promelas have declined, whereas largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis have increased in relative abundance in assemblages upstream of the impoundment. Species richness was lower in contemporary assemblages compared with historical assemblages. Furthermore, contemporary assemblages below the dam had lower species richness, diversity and evenness compared with contemporary collections above the dam. These results highlight the spatial and temporal extent of reservoirs altering fish assemblages upstream of impoundments.     

Comparisons of the food niches of three native and two introduced fish species in an Australian river

Synopsis The breadth, correspondence and overlap of the diets of the small and large size classes of the three native species (Galaxias occidentalis, Bostockia porosa and Edelia vittata) and two introduced species (Gambusia holbrooki and Perca fluviatilis) of fishes found in the shallows of the main channel and in the tributary creeks of a south-western Australian river have been compared in each season. Classification and ordination were used to examine the overall interrelationships of the diets across species, size groups, seasons and the location where the fish were caught (channel or creek). The smaller fish had a narrower dietary breadth than larger fish in the spring and summer, presumably reflecting the size limit imposed on prey size by their possession of a relatively small mouth in these seasons. Intraspecific dietary overlap between large and small size classes was usually high in G. occidentalis, but generally low in G. holbrooki and P. fluviatilis, and also in B. porosa and E. vittata when the difference between the lengths of the two size groups was greatest. Dietary overlap was least in autumn when the main prey taxa were most abundant. During winter, the diets of the three native species in the tributaries converged, probably reflecting a relatively low faunal diversity in these highly seasonal water bodies. The only relatively consistent interspecific overlap in diet was between B. porosa and E. vittata. Classification and ordination of the dietary samples separated G. occidentalis (which fed extensively on terrestrial organisms from the water surface) from the smaller P. fluviatilis (that concentrated on copepods in the plankton) and from B. porosa and E. vittata (which ingested primarily benthic organisms). Furthermore, B. porosa tended to ingest larger prey taxa than E. vittata. The diet of Gambusia holbrooki is sometimes dominated by terrestrial insects and at other times by benthic organisms, demonstrating that this species is an opportunistic carnivore. It is concluded that food partitioning by the three native and two introduced fish species in the Collie River is likely to be one of the principal factors facilitating the coexistence of substantial populations of these species in this system.     

Feeding habits and seasonal trophic guilds structuring fish community in the bay mouth region of a tropical estuarine habitat

Understanding trophic relationships of fish in estuarine ecosystem is an important element for sustainable resource management. This study examined the feeding habits of 29 dominant fish species, characterized the trophic guilds, assessed the impact of season and clarified the role of diets in structuring the fish community in the mouth region of Pattani Bay, Thailand. Samples of 5792 fishes collected monthly by gillnets from March 2019 to February 2020 were used for stomach content analyses. It was found that the number of food types and fullness index differed between fish taxa (P < 0.001). Most fishes were specialist feeders feeding on specific food components and were categorized into five trophic guilds: piscivore, shrimp-fish feeder, polychaete feeder, zooplanktivore and planktivore. Six species were piscivorous, considered as apex predators, that fed almost entirely on fishes. High diet overlaps among some species (>0.6) were recorded. Not much variation in seasonal guilds was observed: four guilds in the dry season, three in the moderate rainy season and four in the rainy season. Some species remained in the same guild the whole year round, but some fishes changed seasonally. Two fish communities from different regions of the bay were segregated based on feeding habits. The inner bay community comprised mainly copepod and plankton feeders, but there were more piscivores in the deeper bay mouth area. Results from this study help us to understand the feeding habits and trophic guilds of dominant fish species at the mouth of this tropical estuarine bay.     

Differences in the behavior and diet between shoaling and solitary surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)

Variation in behavior within marine and terrestrial species can influence the functioning of the ecosystems they inhabit. However, the contribution of social behavior to ecosystem function remains underexplored. Many coral reef fish species provide potentially insightful models for exploring how social behavior shapes ecological function because they exhibit radical intraspecific variation in sociality within a shared habitat. Here, we provide an empirical exploration on how the ecological function of a shoaling surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus) may differ from that of solitary conspecifics on two Pacific coral reefs combining insight from behavioral observations, stable isotope analysis, and macronutrient analysis of gut and fecal matter. We detected important differences in how the social mode of A. triostegus affected its spatial and feeding ecology, as well as that of other reef fish species. Specifically, we found increased distance traveled and area covered by shoaling fish relative to solitary A. triostegus. Additionally, shoaling A. triostegus primarily grazed within territories of other herbivorous fish and had piscivorous and nonpiscivorous heterospecific fish associated with the shoal, while solitary A. triostegus grazed largely grazed outside of any territories and did not have any such interactions with heterospecific fish. Results from stable isotope analysis show a difference in δ15N isotopes between shoaling and solitary fish, which suggests that these different social modes are persistent. Further, we found a strong interaction between social behavior and site and carbohydrate and protein percentages in the macronutrient analysis, indicating that these differences in sociality are associated with measurable differences in both the feeding ecology and nutrient excretion patterns. Our study suggests that the social behavior of individuals may play an important and underappreciated role in mediating their ecological function.