Feeding ecology and seasonal diet overlap between Stellifer brasiliensis and Stellifer stellifer in a tropical estuarine ecocline. Issue 2 (7th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dantas, D. V.; Barletta, M.; Costa, M. F.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 86:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 707
• Page End: 733
• Publication Date: 2015-01-07
• Subjects: Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12592
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jfb12592-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p id="jfb12592-para-0001">Seasonal freshwater discharge was important for defining habitat utilization by different ontogenetic phases of <italic>Stellifer brasiliensis</italic> and <italic>Stellifer stellifer</italic> along the estuarine ecocline. The middle estuary was important as a nursery and feeding ground for young‐of‐the‐year, and a feeding ground for sub‐adults and adults of both species. These species are zoobenthivorous, but during their life cycle and between different habitats and seasons, their trophic guild can change to opportunist and zooplanktivore. During the late rainy season in the lower estuary, all phases of both species, except juveniles of <italic>S. brasiliensis</italic> and adults of <italic>S. stellifer</italic>, showed a niche overlap indicating similarity in prey utilization. The diet composition was qualitatively similar, showing an evident niche overlap of intra and interspecific competition among the <italic>Stellifer</italic> spp. Although the niches of these species appeared to significantly overlap, some resource partitioning patterns were apparent. The niche overlap was significantly reduced due to the seasonal difference in habitat use and prey consumption along the ecocline of the estuary by different ontogenetic phases. The ingestion of blue nylon fragments by both species was observed and quantified.</p> </abstract>