Seasonal and ontogenetic variations in the diet of Cichla kelberi Kullander and Ferreira, 2006 introduced in an artificial lake in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The diet of Cichla kelberi introduced in an artificial lake in Leme-SP was predominantly composed of common fish species (Oreochromis niloticus and C. kelberi). In the spring and summer, the most consumed item was O. niloticus. However, cannibalism was very common for this species. The high frequencies of O. niloticus and C. kelberi reveal that this species is adapted to a seasonal cycle, feeding on the most common prey in each period of the year, with a reduction of foraging activity during the winter. The diets were different among the immature and mature individuals suggesting that there are ontogenetic differences, mainly related to prey type, such as: Ephemeroptera consumed by the immature peacock bass and fish by the mature ones, besides the size of the prey.

Trophic ecology of Acestrorhynchus falcirostris Cuvier, 1819 in island lakes on the lower stretch of the Solimões River, Amazon Basin

“…As observed in this study, the occurrence of ingestion of its congeners has already been reported as an indication of cannibalism (Dourado et al, 2015;Krinski, 2010;Rocha et al, 2011), the same pattern of cannibalism was found by Gomiero et al (2010) for another predatory fish species, Cichla kelberi, introduced in an artificial lake in southeastern Brazil. In the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil, Lipparelli (1999) demonstrated that, during the rainy season, there is an increase in the turbidity of the water, causing a decrease in visibility by the predator and the capture of individuals of the same species may occur.…”