The feeding habits of a group of herbivorous rock-dwelling cichlid fishes (Cichlidae: Perciformes) from Lake Malawi,Africa |
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Authors: | Peter N Reinthal |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27706, USA;(2) Present address: Department of Herpetology and Ichthyology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, 10024 New York City, NY, USA |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | Stomach contents Foraging Algae Periphyton Trophic relationships Herbivory |
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