Articulo
Trophic overlap and feeding incidence in fish larvae from central chile
REVISTA CHILENA DE HISTORIA NATURAL (IMPRESA);
Rev. Chil. Hist. Nat.
Registro en:
0
D92F1010
D92F1010
WOS:A1997YE53300007
0716-078X
Autor
BALBONTIN-CAVADA, JORGE
LLANOS, A.
VALENZUELA, V.
Institución
Resumen
Feeding strategies in fish larvae reflect their abilities to capture prey for their survival and growth. These strategies may experience modifications induced by environmental changes. In order to determine whether there are environmental conditions in the study area suitable for larval feeding, feeding incidence, stomach contents, trophic niche breadth, and trophic overlap from eight species of fish larvae were analysed. Samples were obtained from two oceanographic cruises carried out between Los Vilos and Valparaiso, Chile, during September 1989 and January 1990. Significant differences in feeding incidence among species were observed, but not between years, except in Diogenichthys atlanticus. Two groups of species were distinguished: Sardinops sagax, Engraulis ringens, Merluccius gayi, and Hypsoblennius sordidus with a mean feeding incidence over 65%, and Diogenichthys atlanticus, Sebastes capensis, Normanichthys crockeri, and Hygophum bruuni, with an incidence less than 50%. In the dietary composition, variations in the relative importance Of some of the items were observed; however, no differences were observed between sampling periods. Trophic niche breadth was greater in 1990 than in 1989, except in M. gayi. On the other hand, dietary overlap was greater in 1989, with a mean value of D = 0.48, in contrast with 1990, with D = 0.30. Considering the environmental conditions in both sampling periods and the results obtained in the present study, it is assumed that the area between Los Vilos and Valparaiso shows favourable conditions in terms of food availability for larvae. 0 12 FONDEF 0 0 FONDEF 70