title: Variation in the diet and feeding morphology of polyphenic Lepomis macrochirus.
abstract: Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus showed variation in their diet and trophic morphology based on habitat. Pelagic L. macrochirus feed almost exclusively on cladocerans; littoral L. macrochirus feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates, molluscs, cladocerans and insects. Fish from the littoral habitat had wider pharyngeal jaws, which probably allowed them to crush gastropods and process benthic invertebrates.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA. sgerry@fairﬁeld.edu
authors: S P
authors: SP
authors: Gerry
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vogelzang
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Ascher
authors: D J
authors: DJ
authors: Ellerby
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D017753:Ecosystem; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D007568:Jaw / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D010473:Perciformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*