Aquatic macrophytes as feeding site for small fishes in the Rosana Reservoir, Paranapanema River, Southeastern Brazil

Author(s)

Casatti, L. ^[1] ; Mendes, H. F. ^[2] ; Ferreira, K. M. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Biology; v. 63, n. 2, p. 213-222, May 2003.
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology

Abstract

In the present investigation we studied the feeding habits of the fishes associated with aquatic macrophytes in the Rosana Reservoir, southeastern Brazil. Twenty fish species were collected during four field trips, regularly distributed across the dry and wet seasons. Focal snorkeling observations of the fishes were made over a total of six hours. Nine species were present in abundances of more than 1% and, therefore, had their feeding habits analyzed. Hemigrammus marginatus, Roeboides paranensis, Hyphessobrycon eques, Astyanax altiparanae, Serrasalmus spilopleura, and Bryconamericus stramineus were predominantly invertivores, with predominance of aquatic insects (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera immatures) among their food items. The predominantly algivores were Apareiodon affinis, Serrapinnus notomelas, and Satanoperca pappaterra, with high frequency of filamentous blue-green algae, diatoms, clorophyts, and periderm. The different microhabitat exploitation plus diet composition suggests partitioning of resources and absence of food competition among the most representative fish species in the studied community, indicating the importance of the naturalistic approach to fish ecology studies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 00/01919-8 - Biology and structure of three communities of fish from the Sete de Setembro tributary, Morro do Diabo State Park, Alto Rio Paraná Basin, SP
• Grantee: Lilian Casatti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 00/05903-9 - Biology and systematics of Antillocladius (Insecta: Diptera: Chironomidae)
• Grantee: Humberto Fonseca Mendes
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 00/01918-1 - Aspects of the biology of a community of river fish from the basin of the River Mogi-Guaçu, SP: diet, reproduction and ecomorphology
• Grantee: Katiane Mara Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 98/05072-8 - Fish diversity of the headwaters and streams of the Upper Paraná River System in the State of São Paulo, Brazil
• Grantee: Ricardo Macedo Corrêa e Castro
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants