title: Relationship between ecomorphology and trophic segregation in four closely related sympatric fish species (Teleostei, Sciaenidae).
abstract: This study explores the relationship between ecomorphology and trophic segregation in four closely related sympatric fish species (Teleostei, Sciaenidae) that are known to differ in their trophic habits. Only adult specimens were analyzed: 103 Cynoscion guatucupa, 77 Pogonias cromis, 61 Micropogonias furnieri, and 48 Menticirrhus americanus. The four species presented divergent ecomorphological traits related to swimming agility, prey spotting and capture, and the potential size of prey they were able to swallow. Results suggest that these sciaenid species can partition the food resources, even though they completely overlap in space. Differences in their ecomorphological traits appear to correlate closely with the diet and consequently could explain the trophic differentiation observed. Arguably, these ecomorphological differences play a significant role in the coexistence of the adults of these sympatric fish species.
authors: Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: gabriela_blasina@hotmail.com.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Blasina
authors: Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Molina
authors: Laboratorio de Vertebrados, Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahía Blanca, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Lopez Cazorla
authors: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratorio de Biotaxonomía Morfológica y Molecular de Peces, Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras (IIMyC), CONICET and FCEyN, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Díaz de Astarloa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D004032:Diet; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010473:Perciformes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity; D013550:Swimming; D061350:Sympatry
keywords: Coexistent species; Contenu de l’intestin; Diet; Diète; Espèces coexistantes; Functional morphology; Gut content; Morphologie fonctionnelle; Partage des ressources; Resource partitioning