Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park

This study investigated the morphological and dietary relationships of the fish assemblage in a stream with an endemic fauna and low species richness. The ichthyofauna was sampled quarterly from September 2011 to July 2012, through the electrofishing technique. The stomach contents of 419 individual...

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Main Authors: Mayara Pereira Neves, Rosilene Luciana Delariva, Luciano Lazzarini Wolff
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia
Series:Neotropical Ichthyology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252015000100245&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Mayara Pereira Neves
Rosilene Luciana Delariva
Luciano Lazzarini Wolff
author_facet Mayara Pereira Neves
Rosilene Luciana Delariva
Luciano Lazzarini Wolff
author_sort Mayara Pereira Neves
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the morphological and dietary relationships of the fish assemblage in a stream with an endemic fauna and low species richness. The ichthyofauna was sampled quarterly from September 2011 to July 2012, through the electrofishing technique. The stomach contents of 419 individuals belonging to seven species were analyzed by the volumetric method, and the ecomorphological traits of 30 specimens of each species were estimated. The main food items consumed were detritus, aquatic and terrestrial insects, and other aquatic invertebrates. We observed low levels of trophic niche breadth and diet overlap between most species. The PCA scores indicated the occurrence of three ecomorphotypes. PCA axis 1 segregated at one extreme, species with dorsoventrally depressed bodies, longer caudal peduncles, and well-developed swimming fins; and at the other extreme, species with compressed bodies and peduncles, and relatively larger eyes and anal fins. PCA axis 2 segregated species with elongated bodies and ventrally oblique mouths. The partial Mantel test revealed a significant correlation between diet and morphology, indicating independence from the phylogeny. The patterns observed suggest that the low richness did not result in a broadening of the species' trophic niches, or in the absence of some of the main ecomorphotypes expected.
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spelling doaj.art-7350c9037fb54d04b91d90210e1071682022-12-22T02:50:13ZengSociedade Brasileira de IctiologiaNeotropical Ichthyology1982-022413124525410.1590/1982-0224-20140124S1679-62252015000100245Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National ParkMayara Pereira NevesRosilene Luciana DelarivaLuciano Lazzarini WolffThis study investigated the morphological and dietary relationships of the fish assemblage in a stream with an endemic fauna and low species richness. The ichthyofauna was sampled quarterly from September 2011 to July 2012, through the electrofishing technique. The stomach contents of 419 individuals belonging to seven species were analyzed by the volumetric method, and the ecomorphological traits of 30 specimens of each species were estimated. The main food items consumed were detritus, aquatic and terrestrial insects, and other aquatic invertebrates. We observed low levels of trophic niche breadth and diet overlap between most species. The PCA scores indicated the occurrence of three ecomorphotypes. PCA axis 1 segregated at one extreme, species with dorsoventrally depressed bodies, longer caudal peduncles, and well-developed swimming fins; and at the other extreme, species with compressed bodies and peduncles, and relatively larger eyes and anal fins. PCA axis 2 segregated species with elongated bodies and ventrally oblique mouths. The partial Mantel test revealed a significant correlation between diet and morphology, indicating independence from the phylogeny. The patterns observed suggest that the low richness did not result in a broadening of the species' trophic niches, or in the absence of some of the main ecomorphotypes expected.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252015000100245&lng=en&tlng=enFeeding ecologyIguaçu River basinMorphotypesNiche overlapStream fishes
spellingShingle Mayara Pereira Neves
Rosilene Luciana Delariva
Luciano Lazzarini Wolff
Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park
Neotropical Ichthyology
Feeding ecology
Iguaçu River basin
Morphotypes
Niche overlap
Stream fishes
title Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park
title_full Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park
title_fullStr Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park
title_full_unstemmed Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park
title_short Diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic, species-poor fish assemblage in a stream in the Iguaçu National Park
title_sort diet and ecomorphological relationships of an endemic species poor fish assemblage in a stream in the iguacu national park
topic Feeding ecology
Iguaçu River basin
Morphotypes
Niche overlap
Stream fishes
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252015000100245&lng=en&tlng=en
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