title: Highly segregated trophic niche of two congeneric fish species in Neotropical floodplain lakes.
abstract: The diets of two sympatric, morphologically similar species of Moenkhausia were studied to investigate whether the manner in which they exploit food resources can help to explain their coexistence. Fish diets were evaluated during the low-water season in six lakes of the upper Paraná River floodplain (Brazil). The results indicate that these two species segregate in relation to food resources and that the differential use of resources is probably a strategy that reduces competition during periods of a potential food shortage (the low-water season).
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, PEA, Avenida Colombo, 5790, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carniatto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, PEA, Avenida Colombo, 5790, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fugi
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Nupélia, PEA, Avenida Colombo, 5790, 87020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomaz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D020387:Food Chain; D060106:Lakes; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012621:Seasons; D061350:Sympatry
keywords: coexistence; diet composition; food partitioning; niche breadth; small-sized fish