Allometric and ontogenetic patterns related to feeding of a neotropical fish, Satanoperca pappaterra (Perciformes, Cichlidae) |
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| Authors: | F A S Cassemiro T F L V B Rangel F M Pelicice N S Hahn |
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| Institution: | Graduate Program in Animal Biology, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil;, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, CT, USA;, Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aqüicultura (Nupélia), Maringá, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Abstract – This study aims to analyse whether Satanoperca pappaterra changes its feeding habit throughout ontogenetic development, and whether morphological ontogenetic patterns are related to its feeding habit and food capture. We collected 258 individuals in the Cuiabá river basin (Brazil) for analyses. There was a weak relationship between diet and body size, as evidenced by size class and multivariate analyses, and niche breadth did not vary strongly during ontogenetic development. Eight morphometric variables were measured in each individual. We found an isometric relationship for mouth height and width, and for head length. We found positive allometry for snout length and body height in relation to body length, whereas this relationship for intestine length and eye diameter showed negative allometry. These results suggest that morphology and consequently diet vary weakly during ontogenetic development of S. pappaterra . |
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| Keywords: | trophic ecology freshwater generalist fish morphology niche breadth multivariate analysis |
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