Comparative feeding ecology of four syntopic Hypostomus species in a Brazilian southeastern river

Abstract

Though their broad distribution in most Brazilian rivers, scarce studies concerning ecological interactions on Hypostomus species are available. This study observes the diet, the trophic interactions and some morphological aspects of four syntopic species of Hypostomus. These fishes were studied at the superior part of the Corumbataí river, at São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil. Analyses focused feeding patterns, their amplitude and whether there happens some food items overlap among the species. Fish were caught using cast nets at some points of the river. Species were chosen according to their local abundance and, so there were four main species: H. albopunctatus, H. ancistroides, H. regani and H. strigaticeps. Nine food items were found: sediments, fungi, diatoms, green algae, Tecamoeba, vegetal debris and invertebrates. There were not significant differences for the feeding pattern among the four Hypostomus species. The feeding niche amplitude has been larger for H. albopunctatus influenced by a larger amount of vegetal debris and invertebrates. Elevated niche overlap was found to happen among the species and also for their trophic morphology. Results may suggest that there is a similar pattern in food taken between four species of Hypostomus analyzed since all consume similar environmental resources and have similar anatomical features. However, a different intake insect larvae and plant material in H. albopunctatus diet indicate differences in local and how this species may be exploring their food compared to the others.Keywords: Corumbataí river, niche breadth, niche overlap, macrohabitat. Ecologia alimentar comparativa de quatro espécies simpátricas deHypostomus em um rio do sudoeste brasileiro

Feeding strategy and morphology as indicators of habitat use and coexistence of two loricariid fishes from a Brazilian coastal stream

“…Feeding strategies reflect morphology and individual foraging performance (Douglas & Matthews 1992, do Carmo et al 2015 and are frequently described by those corporal characters related to fish movement (Celestino et al 2017, Conde-Saldaña et al 2017 as well as feeding tactics (Ramírez et al 2015). The synergy of those aspects, of fish form and function, can be well described by the ecomorphological approach (Oliveira et al 2010, Feilich & López-Fernández 2019 and explain habitat occupation (Sabino & Castro 1990, Wood & Bain 1995, Tulli 2012 and coexistence of some close related species (Villares-Junior et al 2016).…”

“…Parotocinclus and Hypostomus species are normally classified as grazers or herbivores with benthonic behavior, inhabiting the bottoms of streams and/or submerged vegetation (Costa 1987, Casatti 2002, Mazzoni et al 2010, Villares-Junior et al 2016. We present here a comparative analysis of morphology, diet and habitat use of two of these Loricariidae species, namely Parotocinclus maculicauda (Steindachner, 1877) and Hypostomus punctatus Valenciennes, 1840.…”

Fish community response to environmental variations in an impacted Neotropical basin

“…macroinvertebrates (Cobb, Galloway, & Flannagan, 1992) and fish communities (Casatti et al, 2012;Ribeiro, Teresa, & Casatti, 2016 (Casatti et al, 2012;Ribeiro et al, 2016). While O. paranensis depends on the allochthonous resources originated from the riparian vegetation (Shibatta et al, 2007), the remaining species explore resources dependent on stable substrates, including the periphyton and benthonic macroinvertebrates (Braga, Gomiero, & Souza, 2008;Rondineli, Carmassi, & Braga, 2009;Sazima, 1980;Villares-Junior, Cardone, & Goitein, 2016).…”

“…The riparian vegetation reduces the movement of sediments into the water bodies (Tiecher et al, 2017) and supplies for the aquatic environments with structural elements such as branches, trunks, roots, organic matter and nutrients (Allan & Castillo, 2007;Pusey & Arthington, 2003). Those elements increase the diversity and availability of ecological niches, supporting complex periphyton (Baattrup-Pedersen & Riis, 1999), macroinvertebrates (Cobb, Galloway, & Flannagan, 1992) and fish communities (Casatti et al, 2012;Ribeiro, Teresa, & Casatti, 2016 and benthonic macroinvertebrates (Braga, Gomiero, & Souza, 2008;Rondineli, Carmassi, & Braga, 2009;Sazima, 1980;Villares-Junior, Cardone, & Goitein, 2016).…”

BIOLOGIA DA ESPÉCIE Rhamdia quelen (QUOY E GAIMARD, 1824), (SILURIFORMES: PIMELODIDAE), NA MICROBACIA DO RIO QUEIMA-PÉ NO MUNICÍPIO DE TANGARÁ DA SERRA-MT, BRASIL

“…A utilização dos recursos nos sistemas ecológicos, muitas vezes é compartilhada entre vários grupos que coexistem, desempenhando papel fundamental nos ambientes aquáticos (VILLARES-JUNIOR et al, 2016).…”