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Feeding ecology of the Brazilian silverside Atherinella brasiliensis (Atherinopsidae) in a sub-tropical estuarine ecosystem

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2010

R.F. Contente ,
M.F. Stefanoni  and
H.L. Spach
R.F. Contente*
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Ecologia Reprodutiva e do Recrutamento de Organismos Marinhos, Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Praça do Oceanográfico 191, PC 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil Laboratório de Biologia de Peixes, Centro de Estudos do Mar (CEM), Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) Avenida Beira-mar s/n, Pontal do Paraná, PC 83255-000, PB 50.002, Paraná, Brazil
M.F. Stefanoni
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Biologia de Peixes, Centro de Estudos do Mar (CEM), Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) Avenida Beira-mar s/n, Pontal do Paraná, PC 83255-000, PB 50.002, Paraná, Brazil
H.L. Spach
Affiliation:
Laboratório de Biologia de Peixes, Centro de Estudos do Mar (CEM), Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR) Avenida Beira-mar s/n, Pontal do Paraná, PC 83255-000, PB 50.002, Paraná, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: R.F. Contente, Laboratório de Ecologia Reprodutiva e do Recrutamento de Organismos Marinhos, Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Praça do Oceanográfico 191, PC 05508-120, São Paulo, Brazil email: riguel.contente@gmail.com
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Abstract

The feeding ecology of the Brazilian silverside, Atherinella brasiliensis, in a sub-tropical estuary of Brazil was investigated through the gut analysis of 1431 individuals. We described dietary composition and analysed seasonal, estuarine habitat, and body size variations in the diet; trophic level; feeding diversity; and gut fullness indices. Results reveal that A. brasiliensis is a typical, generalistic and opportunistic predator that makes use of a wide array of prey types (at least 89 different types), with zooplankton (mainly calanoids), diatoms, terrestrial insects, and plant detritus making up the bulk of the overall diet. The exotic calanoid Temora turbinata ranked as the primary prey. A wide feeding diversity (mean H′ = 2.26), low trophic level (mean TROPH = 2.57), and high gut replenishment were persistent across seasons and habitats. Diet composition varied largely and significantly with respect to habitat, season, and body size. A closer assessment showed that habitat and season had a stronger effect on diet than fish size.

Keywords

dietfeeding habitgeneralist fishexotic copepodTemora turbinataParanaguá Bay Estuarine Complex
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 91 , Special Issue 6: Fish Ecology , September 2011 , pp. 1197 - 1205
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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