Predator communities associated with brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) prey: patterns in body size

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara S Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Community Type ◽  
Upper Peninsula ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Size Relationship ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Large Predators

Prey body size is often inversely correlated with largest size of coexisting predators, yet few studies have examined this relationship in the context of entire predator communities. Using field surveys and laboratory trials, this study tested whether a size relationship exists between brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) prey and the largest coexisting predator in the context of nested predator communities at 26 sites across Michigan's upper peninsula. Small predators, limited to consuming small sticklebacks, were widely distributed and equally common in pond, breached pond, and stream habitats. Large predators consumed all stickleback sizes, occurred at fewer sites, and were found more frequently in stream than in pond and breached pond habitats in one of the two survey years. Predator communities were categorized as small-predator and mixed-predator communities. Small-predator communities included small, gape-limited predators only. Sticklebacks apparently reached a size refugia from predation (>42 mm standard length) in this community type. Mixed-predator communities included both small and large predators and had no size refugia for sticklebacks. Although predator distributions were nested in this system, prey size was correlated with the largest predator size at each site. Stickleback length was negatively correlated with maximum predator length and was smaller in mixed-predator than in small-predator communities.

Ecology and evolution of sympatric sticklebacks (Gasterosteus): specialization for alternative trophic niches in the Enos Lake species pair

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 2280-2286 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bentzen ◽  
J. D. McPhail
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Feeding Behaviour ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Fixed Time ◽  
Threespine Stickleback ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Species Pair ◽  
Trophic Niches

Two morphologically distinct species of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus) coexist in Enos Lake on Vancouver Island. For convenience these species are referred to as "limnetics" and "benthics." We used three experiments to compare the feeding performance of the two species and to test the hypothesis that limnetics are adapted for planktivory whereas benthics are adapted to forage on substrates. The results support this conclusion. When tested for maximum prey size; benthics consumed larger prey (relative to their body size) than limnetics. Benthics also were more successful than limnetics in foraging on a substrate. When allowed to forage for a fixed time on a detritus substrate, benthics of both sexes captured more prey than male limnetics, even though male limnetics directed as many feeding strikes at the substrate as did the benthics. Female limnetics would not forage on a detritus substrate. Limnetics were more successful in feeding on plankton than benthics. When held in mesh enclosures suspended in Enos Lake, limnetics consumed more plankton than benthics. Small limnetics (26–36 mm standard length) consumed nearly four times more plankton than large limnetics (44–50 mm standard length). The small limnetics were all either mature females or immature males; the large limnetics were all mature males. The results of the benthic foraging and plankton feeding comparisons support the additional conclusion that Enos Lake limnetics are sexually dimorphic in their feeding behaviour.

Trophic position scales positively with body size within but not among four species of rocky reef predators

2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Olson ◽  
A Frid ◽  
JBQ dos Santos ◽  
F Juanes
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Predatory Fishes ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Interspecific Comparisons ◽  
Large Predators

Intra- and interspecifically, larger-bodied predators generally occupy higher trophic positions (TPs). With widespread declines in large predators, there is a need to understand their size-based trophic roles to predict ecosystem-level responses. In British Columbia, Canada, we examined size-based trophic interactions between predatory fishes—3 rockfish species (genus Sebastes) and lingcod Ophiodon elongatus—and their prey, converting predator δ15N signatures to TP and analyzing stomach contents. Intraspecifically, TP scaled positively with predator length and gape width, but the rates of change varied by species. Interspecifically, TP did not scale positively with the observed mean sizes or known maximum sizes of species. Lingcod TP was lower than that of yelloweye and quillback rockfishes, which were 51 and 37%, respectively, smaller than lingcod. Yellowtail rockfish had the smallest average size, yet their mean TP did not differ significantly from that of lingcod. Neither species differences in some morphometric traits known to influence body size-TP relationships nor phylogenetic history explained these results. Most prey consumed were <20% of the predator’s size, which might partially explain the lack of a size-based trophic hierarchy among species. Currently, large size classes of rockfishes are being lost due to fisheries and perhaps climate-driven changes. Our findings on intraspecific size-TP relationships indicate that fishery removals of large individuals may diminish trophic structures. Interspecific comparisons of TP suggest that, along with size, species remain an important factor in understanding trophic dynamics. In addition, smaller-bodied predator species may have significant ecological roles to be considered in ecosystem-based fisheries management.

Geographic and morphological variation in the presence and absence of the pelvic skeleton in the brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), in Alberta and Saskatchewan

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Nelson ◽  
F. Mervyn Atton
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Fishery Management ◽  
Fish Introduction ◽  
Spine Length ◽  
Culaea Inconstans ◽  
Full Development ◽  
Normal Individuals ◽  
Brook Stickleback ◽  
Presence And Absence ◽  
Skeleton Formation

Brook sticklebacks, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), are known from 20 locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan in which a high proportion of the individuals lack all or part of the pelvic skeleton. These locations are interspersed and surrounded by other locations containing individuals with a normal pelvic skeleton. Individuals which lack the skeleton are of both sexes and are fertile in at least one of the lakes.Considerable variation exists between locations in the proportion of individuals with and without the pelvic skeleton. Morphological intermediates are known from most of the 20 locations and virtually all degrees of pelvic skeleton formation exist between its absence and its full development. Little or no gradation exists, however, in pelvic spine length between their absence and presence. Although the pelvic spines are the first part of the pelvic skeleton to appear during ontogeny, they are present only in intermediates with a virtually complete skeleton base. In addition, many intermediates are highly asymmetrical in their pelvic skeleton while development during the ontogeny of normal individuals is symmetrical.There is a greater tendency for individuals in which the pelvic skeleton is deficient to occur in lakes which lack an outlet rather than to occur in lakes with a permanent outlet. An unusually high proportion of the lakes with these aberrant individuals have been subject to fishery management activities (fish introduction and poisoning), but these disturbances are not causing the loss of the pelvic skeleton.

scholarly journals Diet composition and feeding habits of the eyespot skate, Atlantoraja cyclophora (Elasmobranchii: Arhynchobatidae), off Uruguay and northern Argentina

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago A. Barbini ◽  
Luis O. Lucifora
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
The North ◽  
Multiple Hypothesis ◽  
Modelling Approach

ABSTRACT The eyespot skate, Atlantoraja cyclophora, is an endemic species from the southwestern Atlantic, occurring from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to northern Patagonia, Argentina. The feeding habits of this species, from off Uruguay and north Argentina, were evaluated using a multiple hypothesis modelling approach. In general, the diet was composed mainly of decapod crustaceans, followed by teleost fishes. Molluscs, mysidaceans, amphipods, isopods, lancelets and elasmobranchs were consumed in lower proportion. The consumption of shrimps drecreased with increasing body size of A. cyclophora. On the other hand, the consumption of teleosts increased with body size. Mature individuals preyed more heavily on crabs than immature individuals. Teleosts were consumed more in the south region (34º - 38ºS) and crabs in the north region (38º - 41ºS). Shrimps were eaten more in the warm season than in the cold season. Prey size increased with increasing body size of A. cyclophora , but large individuals also consumed small teleosts and crabs. Atlantoraja cyclophora has demersal-benthic feeding habits, shifts its diet with increasing body size and in response to seasonal and regional changes in prey availability and distribution.

scholarly journals Size-related Change in the Visual Resolution of Sunfish (Lepomis spp.)

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 2017-2026 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Walton ◽  
Stephen S. Easter Jr. ◽  
Celeste Malinoski ◽  
Nelson G. Hairston Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Resolving Power ◽  
Pelagic Zone ◽  
Volume Increase ◽  
Fish Size ◽  
Visual Resolution ◽  
Search Volume ◽  
The Mean

Visual resolution of juvenile sunfish (Lepomis spp.) (8–33 mm standard length (SL)), although extremely poor in comparison with the larger individuals (38–160 mm SL) used in previous studies, improves rapidly as they grow. Histologically and behaviorally determined (mean reaction angle) visual angles of fish between 10 and 33 mm SL decrease by approximately 50 and 100 minutes of arc, respectively, and decline non-linearly with increasing fish size. Behaviorally determined visual resolution of juvenile sunfish based on maximum location distance (MLD) is equivalent to that calculated from intercone spacing. The mean reaction angle used in previous studies may have underestimated behavioral visual resolution of larger (> 38 mm SL) sunfish by approximately 30%. Visual volume and search volume increase by nearly three orders of magnitude in sunfish between 8 and 50 mm SL. After sunfish exceed 50 mm SL (when they can safely return to the pelagic zone), visual resolution increases comparatively slowly as body size increases. Our results suggest that the size-related change in behavioral visual resolution in sunfish is influenced by other factors in addition to the growth-related changes in the resolving power of the retina.

scholarly journals Scaling the feeding mechanism of the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): motor pattern

1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (5) ◽  
pp. 1161-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Wainwright ◽  
B Richard
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Motor Pattern ◽  
Onset Time ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Scaling Effects ◽  
Emg Signal

We present the first analysis of scaling effects on the motor pattern of a feeding vertebrate. Data are presented for the effects of body size on the pattern of activity in four head muscles during prey capture in the largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings were made from three expansive-phase muscles (the epaxialis, the sternohyoideus and the levator arcus palatini) and one compressive-phase muscle (the adductor mandibulae), during the capture of small fish prey. Recordings were made of 181 prey-capture events from 19 bass that ranged in size from 83 to 289 mm standard length. We measured seven variables from the myogram of each capture to quantify the temporal pattern of muscle activation, including the duration of activity in each muscle and the onset time of each muscle, relative to the onset of the sternohyoideus muscle. Regressions of the mean value of each variable for the 19 individuals on standard length revealed that only the onset time of the adductor mandibulae changed with fish body size. The increase in onset time of the adductor muscle appears to reflect the longer time taken to open the mouth fully in larger fish. Other research shows that the kinematics of the strike in this species slows significantly with increasing body size. The combined results indicate that the duration of the EMG signal is not directly correlated with the duration of force production in muscles when compared between fish of different sizes. The lack of scaling of burst duration variables suggests that the reduced speeds of prey-capture motion are explained not by changes in the envelope of muscle activity, but rather by the effects of scale on muscle contractile kinetics. These scaling effects may include changes in the relative resistance of the jaw and head structures to movement through water and changes in the intrinsic contractile properties of the muscles of the feeding apparatus.

Brain size/body weight in the dingo (Canis dingo): comparisons with domestic and wild canids

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley P. Smith ◽  
Teghan A. Lucas ◽  
Rachel M. Norris ◽  
Maciej Henneberg
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Brain Size ◽  
Cuon Alpinus ◽  
Size Relationship ◽  
Wild Canids ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Endocranial Volume ◽  
The Brain

Endocranial volume was measured in a large sample (n = 128) of free-ranging dingoes (Canis dingo) where body size was known. The brain/body size relationship in the dingoes was compared with populations of wild (Family Canidae) and domestic canids (Canis familiaris). Despite a great deal of variation among wild and domestic canids, the brain/body size of dingoes forms a tight cluster within the variation of domestic dogs. Like dogs, free-ranging dingoes have paedomorphic crania; however, dingoes have a larger brain and are more encephalised than most domestic breeds of dog. The dingo’s brain/body size relationship was similar to those of other mesopredators (medium-sized predators that typically prey on smaller animals), including the dhole (Cuon alpinus) and the coyote (Canis latrans). These findings have implications for the antiquity and classification of the dingo, as well as the impact of feralisation on brain size. At the same time, it highlights the difficulty in using brain/body size to distinguish wild and domestic canids.

Body size, diet and reproductive ecology of Coluber hippocrepis in the Rif (Northern Morocco)

2004 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Pleguezuelos ◽  
Soumia Fahd
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Prey Size ◽  
Reproductive Ecology ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
Dietary Shift ◽  
Intersexual Difference ◽  
Whip Snake

AbstractAlthough it is generally assumed that the Horseshoe Whip Snake (Coluber hippocrepis) originated in northern Africa, its biology and ecology has been studied mainly in southern Europe. In this paper we report on morphology, feeding, and reproductive ecology of Coluber hippocrepis in the Rif region (northern Morocco). Males attained larger sizes than did females, but there was no body-size difference between populations separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. The species feeds exclusively on vertebrates: mammals (45%), reptiles (28%), birds (17%), and amphibians (10%). There was an ontogenetic dietary shift in terms of frequency of prey consumed and in terms of prey size; moreover, an intersexual difference in prey frequency was found. Sexual maturity was attained at 540 mm snout-vent length (SVL) in males, and 720 mm SVL in females. Males showed a vernal spermatogenic cycle. Oviposition occurred at the beginning of summer, and offspring were observed in the field during September.

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