Feeding ecology of fish larvae from Chilean Patagonia during austral winter

Abstract

Feeding habits of the ichthyoplankton from Chilean Patagonia (44-46°30'S) were studied during June-July 2012 (austral winter). Ichthyoplankton assemblage was composed by 10 species, with low abundance (3.8 to 16.73 ind. 1000 m -3 ). Most abundant larvae were Maurolicus parvipinnis, Leptonotus blainvilleanus and Sprattus fuegensis. These three species fed mainly on calanoid copepodites, Paracalanus indicus and Calanus sp. copepodites, and cyphonautes. Trophic overlap among dominant fish larvae was high (Schoener's D > 0.69) and no significant differences were detected in prey composition and size. Therefore, no resource partitioning occurred in planktonic fish larvae during winter 2012 in Chilean Patagonia.

Spatio‐temporal patterns of ichthyoplankton in southern Chilean Patagonia: β‐diversity and associated environmental factors

“…These species synchronize their reproductive periods with favourable conditions, using the region as a nursery to nourish their offspring during the first‐feeding period (Landaeta, Bustos et al, 2015; Landaeta, Contreras et al, 2015). Furthermore, although these larval species show generalist feeding habits, with trophic overlap (Landaeta et al, 2019), there is a differentiation in feeding times (Salas‐Berrios et al, 2013). Indeed, different prey sizes are associated with larval developmental stages (Contreras et al, 2014), and there is a constant availability of food, mainly during spring and austral summer in the area (Iriarte et al, 2016).…”