Feeding strategy of fish that colonize reservoirs in the Magdalena river basin

Abstract

Construction of dams for hydropower in Andean rivers of Colombia is increasing loss of species of the region. Fish species that persist in these artificial ecosystems are those which find favorable the new conditions for their recruitment. Because feeding is one of the fish life strategies that influence their persistence in reservoirs, we analyzed the stomach contents of the species present in two cascade reservoirs in the Magdalena river basin. The objectives were to describe the diet, to determine their feeding strategies and to evaluate if the rainy season or spatial distribution affects the diet of the fish species. Our results indicate that the fish species Brycon henni and Astyanax microlepis that feed on a wide range of resources that the system offers and adopt a generalist strategy. Also, opportunistic species such as Roeboides dayi and Hoplosternum magdalenae occupied these environments. Climatic seasonality does not influence the feeding habits of the fish species inhabiting the study reservoirs. Knowledge of the feeding habits of fish species is a priority for strengthening the environmental management of aquatic resources of the Andes.

Trophic ecology of Brycon henni (Pisces: Bryconidae) in Nare and Guatapé Rivers, Magdalena River basin, Colombia

“…However, Botero-Botero &Ramírez-Castro (2011) andFeriz García et al (2023) found that the species had a generalist diet with characteristics of a carnivorous species, with a tendency to consume mainly aquatic insects and non-native organisms, and to a lesser extent to consume plant material in the Portugal de Piedras river (Valle del Cauca), and in the Timbío river (Cauca), respectively. In that sense, Restrepo-Santamaría et al (2022) found that the species fed on a wide variety of terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates, as well as plant material and seeds for the Porce III reservoir in the department of Antioquia.…”

“…The above shows that the sabaleta is a fish species that exhibits opportunistic eating habits and easily adapts to the different environments and aquatic environments of the Colombian Andes (Jiménez-Segura et al 2016), which has allowed it to adapt even to the lentic environments generated by the construction of reservoirs in various water courses where the species is spread (Martínez-Orozco & Vásquez-Zapata, 2001;Restrepo-Santamaría et al 2022).…”

Análisis de contenido estomacal de la sabaleta Brycon henni Eigenmann, 1913 en la parte baja del río Timbío, Cauca-Colombia

“…Esta dieta, basada principalmente en macroinvertebrados acuáticos, fue descrita con anterioridad para la misma especie en la cuenca del Pacífico colombiano (Botero-Botero y Ramírez-Castro, 2011) y otras cuencas como la del río Magdalena (Restrepo-Santamaría et al, 2022) y para otras especies del mismo género (Azevedo et al, 2011). Dicha estrategia adaptativa de consumir alimentos de manera generalista le permite a la especie distribuirse en hábitats acuáticos diversos (Restrepo-Santamaría et al, 2022). Adicionalmente, el consumo de insectos terrestres por parte de B. henni indica su papel ecológico al introducir material alóctono al ecosistema acuático (Botero-Botero y Ramírez-Castro, 2011;Restrepo-Santamaría et al, 2022).…”

“…Dicha estrategia adaptativa de consumir alimentos de manera generalista le permite a la especie distribuirse en hábitats acuáticos diversos (Restrepo-Santamaría et al, 2022). Adicionalmente, el consumo de insectos terrestres por parte de B. henni indica su papel ecológico al introducir material alóctono al ecosistema acuático (Botero-Botero y Ramírez-Castro, 2011;Restrepo-Santamaría et al, 2022). La presencia de dientes y lengua de gran tamaño en esta especie favorece el consumo carnívoro a pesar de su tendencia generalista (Londoño-Franco et al, 2017).…”

Trophic niche partitioning among non-native fish species coexisting in a high Andean reservoir

“…It has been reported that predation and increased competition for resources caused by invader sh lead to a decrease in native sh diversity in an aquatic environment (Pelicice and Agostinho 2009; Pereira and Vitule 2019). Therefore, identifying the competition and distribution of food resources (i.e., trophic niche) of the species that coexist in a reservoir is a fundamental component to understand the community structure as well as the ecological functions that the organisms can perform in the modi ed environment (Bezerra et al 2018;Restrepo-Santamaria et al 2022a).…”