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Food partitioning among scorpaenid fishes in Mediterranean seagrass beds

Food partitioning among scorpaenid fishes in Mediterranean seagrass beds Diets of three scorpaenid fishes, Scorpaena notata, S. porcus and S. scrofa, from a Posidonia seagrass bed off Marseilles were quantitatively analysed and categorized according to the size and sex of individuals, to elucidate diel and seasonal rhythms. All three preyed on the same crustacean and fish species, but in different proportions: S. notata mostly fed on Caridae, S. porcus on brachyurans and S. scrofa on fishes. Individual size and diel period were the main factors responsible for diet variation and food partitioning that evolved according to both cyclic (temporal) and continuous (ontogenic) trends. A strong interspecific food overlap was observed in juveniles (S.L. < 50 mm), whereas intraspecific potential competition was low between juveniles and adults. Among medium and large size classes, intra‐ and interspecific food overlaps were high and of equal intensity. Narrower food niches at night, due to a stronger specialization on type and size of prey, diminished the intra‐ and interspecific potential competition during this period of maximum feeding activity. This probably allowed the high number of coexisting scorpaenid populations in Mediterranean seagrass beds. Nevertheless, microhabitat and time partitioning seemed as important as food partitioning in the structuring of fish assemblages. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Fish Biology Wiley

Food partitioning among scorpaenid fishes in Mediterranean seagrass beds

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References (50)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1989 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0022-1112
eISSN
1095-8649
DOI
10.1111/j.1095-8649.1989.tb03352.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Diets of three scorpaenid fishes, Scorpaena notata, S. porcus and S. scrofa, from a Posidonia seagrass bed off Marseilles were quantitatively analysed and categorized according to the size and sex of individuals, to elucidate diel and seasonal rhythms. All three preyed on the same crustacean and fish species, but in different proportions: S. notata mostly fed on Caridae, S. porcus on brachyurans and S. scrofa on fishes. Individual size and diel period were the main factors responsible for diet variation and food partitioning that evolved according to both cyclic (temporal) and continuous (ontogenic) trends. A strong interspecific food overlap was observed in juveniles (S.L. < 50 mm), whereas intraspecific potential competition was low between juveniles and adults. Among medium and large size classes, intra‐ and interspecific food overlaps were high and of equal intensity. Narrower food niches at night, due to a stronger specialization on type and size of prey, diminished the intra‐ and interspecific potential competition during this period of maximum feeding activity. This probably allowed the high number of coexisting scorpaenid populations in Mediterranean seagrass beds. Nevertheless, microhabitat and time partitioning seemed as important as food partitioning in the structuring of fish assemblages.

Journal

Journal of Fish BiologyWiley

Published: May 1, 1989

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