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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Feeding and reproductive patterns of Astyanax intermedius in a headwater stream of Atlantic Rainforest

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Author(s):
Souza, Ursulla P. [1] ; Ferreira, Fabio C. [2] ; Carmo, Michele A. F. [3] ; Braga, Francisco M. S. [4]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Santa Cecilia, Programa Posgrad Sustentabilidade Ecossistemas Co, Rua Cesario Mota 08, BR-11045040 Santos, SP - Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11030400 Santos, SP - Brazil
[3] Univ Santa Cecilia, Programa Posgrad Sustentabilidade Ecossistemas Co, Lab Pesquisa Recursos Pesqueiros, BR-11045040 Santos, SP - Brazil
[4] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506910 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências; v. 87, n. 4, p. 2151-2162, DEC 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

ABSTRACT In this paper, we determined diet composition, reproductive periodicity and fecundity of Astyanax intermedius in a headwater stream of a State Park of an Atlantic rainforest. We also evaluated the influence of rainfall, water temperature and fish size on niche width and niche overlap. Sampling was conducted monthly throughout one year in the Ribeirão Grande stream, southeastern Brazil. Diet consisted of 31 food items with equal contribution of allochthonous and autochthonous items. Females were larger than males, and the mean sizes at first maturation were 4.44 cm and 3.92 cm, respectively. Based on 212 pairs of mature ovaries, the number of oocytes per female ranged from 538 to 6,727 (mean = 2,688.7). Niche width and niche overlap were not related to rainfall nor water temperature and only niche width increased with fish size, suggesting that as fish grow, more items are included in diet. Our results suggested that A. intermedius fit as a typical opportunistic strategist which may explain the prevalence of this species in several isolated headwater basins of vegetated Atlantic forested streams where food resources are abundant and distributed throughout the year. (AU)