Dietary niche overlap in sympatric asexual and sexual livebearing fishes Poecilia spp.

Scharnweber, Kristin; Plath, Martin; Winemiller, Kirk O.; Tobler, Michael

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03114.x

Cited by 30 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 81 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The relatively low trophic position that these species occupy in the Lake Chapala food web reflect these dietary preferences. Fishes in the genus Poecilia will largely consume green algae, fine detritus and diatoms (Scharnweber et al, 2011;Ramírez-Herrejón et al, 2013), which are also food for a wide array of benthic invertebrates. This overlap is evidenced by the relatively low trophic level, and relatively enriched values of δC 13 that both groups have in Lake Chapala.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotope evidence for trophic overlap of sympatric Mexican Lake Chapala silversides (Teleostei: Atherinopsidae: Chirostoma spp.)

Mercado‐Silva

Lyons²,

Moncayo‐Estrada

et al. 2015

Neotrop. ichthyol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We explore the trophic role that a diverse sympatric group of fishes in the genus Chirostoma play in a large, shallow lake in central Mexico, Lake Chapala. We use δ13C and δ15N stable isotope - based food web analyses to explore how they relate to other components of the Lake Chapala ecosystem. We find five Chirostoma species in top trophic levels of the Chapala food web compared to other fishes, relying on a combination of zooplankton, fish and benthic resources as energy sources. Food web metric analyses showed generally overlapping trophic niches for members of Chirostoma, especially in terms of δ13C. However, C. jordani had lower mean δ15N isotopic values than C. promelas. As a group, "pescados blancos" (C. sphyraena and C. promelas) also had higher δ15N signatures than "charales" (C. consocium, C. jordani and C. labarcae) reflecting greater piscivory, but these differences were not strong for all food web metrics used. Trophic overlap among species of Chirostoma in Lake Chapala raises questions about the forces that might have led to a morphologically diverse but functionally similar and monophyletic group of species.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stable isotope evidence for trophic overlap of sympatric Mexican Lake Chapala silversides (Teleostei: Atherinopsidae: Chirostoma spp.)

Mercado‐Silva

Lyons²,

Moncayo‐Estrada

et al. 2015

Neotrop. ichthyol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For instance, both P. latipinna and P. formosa consume the same diet, at the same rate, and are not affected by either heterospecific or conspecific competition (Heubel ; Fischer & Schlupp ; Scharnweber et al. ,b; ). Life histories are also very similar between the two species: both reproduce about every 30 d, have equivalent fecundity (Schlupp et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Female‐Female Aggression in a Sexual/Unisexual Species Complex

Makowicz

Schlupp

2015

Ethology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The maintenance of sexual reproduction is still a largely unresolved question in evolutionary biology, and one of the most puzzling aspects of this is the coexistence of sexual and asexual females. This often leads to widespread niche overlap, posing an interesting challenge to competitive exclusion theory. In this study, we investigate how the aggressive behaviors between females in a sexual/unisexual mating complex of mollies (Poecilia latipinna and P. formosa) differ, and the effects these behaviors have on both the performer and receiver of aggressive acts. We exposed females to five treatments: (1) alone (control); (2) a large and small sexual female; (3) a large sexual female and a small unisexual female; (4) a small sexual female and a large unisexual female; and (5) a large and small unisexual female. We found that P. formosa females were on average more aggressive over time when compared to their sexual hosts, P. latipinna. The females of P. formosa, however, incurred a higher cost of being aggressive. Large, aggressor females of this species had a lower body fat content than their conspecific recipients. By contrast, P. latipinna females showed no differentiation between aggressors and recipients. Here, we combine life history methodology and behavioral observations to show that female competition can in fact be quantitatively measured and that these aggressive behaviors are costly to perform. The adaptive value of this interspecies aggression is not yet completely understood, but sexual competition, access to resources, and position within the shoal are all possible functions.

show abstract

“…Por el contrario, dada la ausencia de competencia interespecífi ca durante la especiación alopátrica, las especies incipientes podrían mantener una estrategia trófi ca generalista. (Elmer et al 2010;Scharnweber et al 2011). En los sistemas acuáticos en climas extremos, como es el caso del Altiplano, donde la especiación ha estado ocurriendo en los últimos 12 mil años, es importante conocer la respuesta alimentaria de las especies que habitan estos sistemas (Giralt et al 2008;Vila et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Caracterización trófica de Orestias (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) en el Parque Nacional Lauca

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

RESUMENLos peces muestran una amplia diversidad de comportamientos alimentarios, algunas veces asociados con morfologías específi cas, las cuales pueden refl ejar adaptaciones para usar los recursos dependiendo de su hábitat. En los sistemas acuáticos aislados, los peces son un buen modelo de estudio para entender las relaciones trófi cas. Este estudió evaluó la dieta de cinco especies de Orestias, las cuales habitan ocho sitios diferentes en la Región de Arica y Parinacota, Parque Nacional Lauca. Se analizaron 177 estómagos pertenecientes a las especies Orestias chungarensis, O. laucaensis, O. parinacotensis, O. piacotensis y Orestias cf agassii. Para los análisis se utilizaron descriptores cuantitativos de número de items presa y frecuencia de ocurrencia. Se analizó la riqueza, diversidad y abundancia de presas por especies y localidad, se evaluó la amplitud y sobrelapamiento de dieta y mediante un análisis de correspondencia (DCA) se analizó la composición dietaria.En general, la dieta de Orestias consistió en zooplancton y macroinvertebrados asociados a las macrófi tas como son Cladocera (Chydorus, Daphnia, Alonella), Ostracoda (Cyprinotus). Amphipoda (Hyalella), Mollusca (Biomphalaria) e Insecta (Chironomus). La variación en la riqueza de presas y amplitud de dieta observado entre las poblaciones de Orestias sería el refl ejo de una estrategia oportunista de las especies, consumiendo las presas de mayor frecuencia, no observándose diferenciación trófi ca entre ellas. PALABRAS CLAVES:Altiplano, alopatría, dieta, peces, simpatría. ABSTRACTFish exhibit a wide diversity of feeding behaviors, sometimes associated with specifi c morphologies, which may refl ect adaptations to exploit the resources depending upon where they live. In isolated aquatic systems, fi sh provide a good model to study species trophic relationships. The present study evaluates the diet of fi ve species of Orestias which inhabit eight different sites of the Arica and Parinacota Region,Lauca National Park, Chile. We analyzed 177 stomachs of Orestias chungarensis, O.laucaensis, O.parinacotensis, O. piacotensis and Orestias cf agassii. For the analyses we used quantitative descriptors of number of prey items and frequency of occurrence. We analyzed the richness and abundance of prey,diet overlap by species and by location. We analyzed diet composition using an analysis of correspondence (DCA). The diet of Orestias consisted of zooplankton and macroinvertebrates associated with macrophytes such as Cladocera (Chydorus, Daphnia, Alonella), Ostracoda (Cyprinotus). Amphipoda (Hyalella), Mollusca (Biomphalaria) and Insecta (Chironomus). The variation in prey richness and diet amplitude observed among the studied populations of Orestias may refl ect an opportunist trophic strategy of these species, consuming the prey species which are most frequent, thus no showing trophic differentiation among them.

show abstract

Dietary niche overlap in sympatric asexual and sexual livebearing fishes Poecilia spp.

Cited by 30 publications

References 81 publications

Stable isotope evidence for trophic overlap of sympatric Mexican Lake Chapala silversides (Teleostei: Atherinopsidae: Chirostoma spp.)

Stable isotope evidence for trophic overlap of sympatric Mexican Lake Chapala silversides (Teleostei: Atherinopsidae: Chirostoma spp.)

Effects of Female‐Female Aggression in a Sexual/Unisexual Species Complex

Caracterización trófica de Orestias (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) en el Parque Nacional Lauca

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About