Comparative Dietary Analysis of Eurycheilichthys Pantherinus And
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Comparative dietary analysis of Eurycheilichthys pantherinus and... 49 Comparative dietary analysis of Eurycheilichthys pantherinus and Pareiorhaphis hystrix: two Loricariidae species (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes) from Campos Sulinos biome, southern Brazil Tatiana S. Dias & Clarice B. Fialho Laboratório de Ictiologia, Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Prédio 43435, Sala 104, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. ([email protected]) ABSTRACT. This work was carried out in Marco river, São José dos Ausentes municipality, state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. This region is located within the Campos Sulinos biome, an area of great biological importance due to its high diversity and endemism of fish. The feeding habits and food overlap between Eurycheilichthys pantherinus (Reis & Schaefer, 1992) (n=108) and Pareiorhaphis hystrix Pereira & Reis, 2002 (n=60) are described. Monthly samples were obtained between September 2000 and July 2001 with dipnets using the kick sampling technique. Stomach contents were analyzed based on frequency of occurrence, volumetric frequency and index of alimentary importance. The level of dietary specialization and food overlap were determined by the Levins measure and the Morisita index, respectively. Eurycheilichthys pantherinus fed mainly on immature aquatic insects, such as Dipterans and Ephemeropterans, and was classified as insectivore. Pareiorhaphis hystrix fed mainly on detritus associated with small amounts of aquatic insects, and was classified as detritivore. Species are clearly segregated by the use of food resources in Marco River. Their diets did not overlap and the differences observed in their feeding habits probably contribute for their coexistence. KEYWORDS. Diet, feeding overlap, detritivory, insectivory, sympatry. RESUMO. Análise comparada da dieta de Eurycheilichthys pantherinus e Pareiorhaphis hystrix: duas espécies de Loricariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes) do bioma Campos Sulinos, sul do Brasil. Este estudo foi realizado no rio do Marco, município de São José dos Ausentes, estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil. Esta região está inserida no bioma Campos Sulinos, considerada uma área de grande importância biológica devido à grande diversidade e endemismo de peixes. Este trabalho tem como objetivos descrever os hábitos alimentares e verificar a presença de sobreposição alimentar na dieta de duas espécies simpátricas de Loricariidae do rio do Marco: Eurycheilichthys pantherinus (Reis & Schaefer, 1992) (n=108) e Pareiorhaphis hystrix Pereira & Reis, 2002 (n=60). Os espécimes foram coletados mensalmente, entre setembro de 2000 e julho de 2001 com redes do tipo puçá utilizando a técnica de kick sampling. Os conteúdos estomacais foram analisados através dos métodos de frequência de ocorrência, frequência volumétrica e índice de importância alimentar. O grau de especialização alimentar e a sobreposição nas dietas foram calculadas através da medida de Levins e do índice de Morisita, respectivamente. Eurycheilichthys pantherinus alimentou-se preferencialmente de formas imaturas de insetos aquáticos, tais como Diptera e Ephemeroptera, apresentando o hábito alimentar insetívoro. Pareiorhaphis hystrix alimentou-se de detrito associado a pequenas quantidades de insetos aquáticos, apresentando o hábito alimentar detritívoro. As espécies estão claramente segregadas quanto ao uso dos recursos alimentares no rio do Marco e possivelmente as diferenças nos hábitos alimentares contribuem para sua coexistência. PALAVRAS-CHAVE. Dieta, sobreposição alimentar, detritivoria, insetivoria, simpatria. Food utilization studies might be an important field Loricariidae is the largest family of armored catfishes for discussing theoretical issues, such as species in the Neotropics, comprising more than 650 described substitution through spatial, temporal and trophic niche species (REIS et al., 2003). Their distribution is limited to components (SCHÖENER, 1974). This would allow a better South and Central America, from Northern Costa Rica to knowledge on species biology, system trophic Southern Argentina (REIS et al., 2003) and constitutes one organization and interaction mechanisms among species of the most specialized families among Neotropical (HERRÁN, 1988). siluriforms (GOSLINE, 1947). Loricariids are bottom-dwelling São José dos Ausentes municipality belongs to fishes in flowing waters, from small montane streams to the Campos Sulinos biome, and is regarded as an area of large lowland rivers, where they are found mainly in rocky great biological importance with high diversity and places (POWER, 1983; MULLER et al., 1994; LOWE- endemism of fish species (MMA, 2000). It is part of the MCCONNELL, 1999). They are characterized by a body Alto Uruguai River co-region (ABELL et al., 2008), an area covered with bony plaques, lower mouth and sucker-like with conservation priority regarding freshwater fish lips (NELSON, 2006). Among other loricariids species found diversity. The knowledge about aspects such as in these region, there are two sympatric and endemic species distribution, composition and occurrence of fish species, from Marco river in São José dos Ausentes municipality: as well as studies of their biology are poorly documented, Eurycheilichthys pantherinus (Reis & Schaefer, 1992), a problematic conservation issue. Moreover, this biome is whose distribution includes the Alto and Medio Uruguai being altered due to anthropogenic interventions, such as river basin, and Pareiorhaphis hystrix Pereira & Reis, 2002, the introduction of exotic fish species (Oncorhynchus occurring at Pelotas river, higher portion of Antas river, mykiss Walbaum, 1792), one of the reasons why the Campos in the Jacui river drainage (PEREIRA & REIS, 2002). Sulinos were diagnosed as having priority for the inventory Several studies about feeding behavior of of the ichthyofauna, according to MMA (2000). Loricariidae species showed the preference on Iheringia, Série Zoologia, Porto Alegre, 101(1-2):49-55, 30 de junho de 2011 50 DIAS & FIALHO autochthonous food resources, such as detritus in different MATERIAL AND METHODS stages of decomposition (ANGELESCU & GNERI, 1949; SAUL, 1975; FUGI et al., 1996; LUIZ et al., 1998; MELO et al., 2004; The São José dos Ausentes municipality lies on MÉRONA & RANKIN-DE-MÉRONA, 2004; OLIVEIRA & the plateau of state of Rio Grande do Sul. Marco river BENNEMANN, 2005), aquatic invertebrates (GOULDING et al., belongs to Pelotas river drainage and is characterized by 1988; UIEDA et al., 1997) and algae (POWER, 1983, 1984a, b, fast flowing waters, stony bottom, scarce marginal 1990; SHAEFER & LAUDER, 1986; COSTA, 1987; BUCK & SAZIMA, vegetation and also some muddy-bottomed lateral 1995; LOWE-MCCONNELL, 1999). So far, no studies on the puddles, forming a mosaic pattern that increases the ecology of E. pantherinus and P. hystrix were made. availability of microhabitats supporting species with The coexistence of similar species in ecological different preferences. communities is one of the most important problems in Fishes were sampled monthly, between September ecology (GORDON, 2000). The degree of overlap in resource 2000 and July 2001, in Marco river (28°36’41’’S, use among coexistent species is variable. In this context, 49°55’09’’W) (Fig. 1). The sampling areas were 100 m long the position of a species within a community may be and 20 m width, with fast flowing water, rocky substrate, defined in terms of its patterns use of resources and its and scarce marginal vegetation. Samples were made by interaction with other species, which uses the same day, with dip nets in riffles about 0.5 m deep using kick resources (PUTMAN, 1994). This abstraction of the position sampling technique. Right after capture, specimens were that a species has within the community and its fixed and biometric data was taken in the laboratory for relationships with other organisms is expressed in the each individual as follows: standard length (SL), in ecological niche concept (PUTMAN, 1994). Following millimeters, total weight (WT) and stomach weight (We), ABRAMS (1980), niche overlap occurs when two or more in grams. Voucher specimens were catalogued in the species use the same resource from the environment. ichthyological collection of the Departamento de Other dimensions of niche are time, space and food Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, (PIANKA, 1994). The importance of these dimensions is Porto Alegre, Brazil (E. pantherinus: UFRGS 7862, 7870- variable in fish communities, but generally the food 7874, 7879-7884, 7887, 7889; P. hystrix: UFRGS 8908). dimension is often more important than the space and Stomach contents were analyzed under a time (ROSS, 1986). Ecological differences in each of these stereoscopic microscope and, when necessary, under an three dimensions may reduce competition and allow the optical microscope. Food items were identified to the coexistence of a variety of species (PIANKA, 1994). lowest possible taxonomic level, using specific literature According to the Competitive Exclusion Principle (NEEDHAM & NEEDHAM, 1978; LOPRETTO & TELL, 1995). (GAUSE, 1934), when phylogenetically related species with All analyses were conducted considering the year similar morphological characteristics coexist in the same seasons: spring (September, October and November habitat, they may compete and result in the exclusion of 2000), summer (December 2000, January and February