Importance of feeding strategies on the long-term success of fish invasions

Autor: Lívia Helena Tonella, Oscar Barroso Júnior Vitorino, Harumi Irene Suzuki, Angelo Antonio Agostinho, Luiz Carlos Gomes, Rosemara Fugi
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Hydrobiologia. 817:239-252
ISSN: 1573-5117
0018-8158
Popis: This study assessed the feeding strategies of nine fish species in their native (Cuiaba River) and in an invaded basin (upper Parana River) to identify trophic variables that may explain the success of these species in the new basin, over 30 years. The following predictions were analyzed: (i) species that display omnivorous or piscivorous diets in the native basin are favored in the invasion process over the long term, and (ii) specialist feeders are favored in the invasion process provided that their food items are highly available in the invaded area. These predictions were supported by the data; the species that were successful invaders had high trophic plasticity (omnivores), consumed a wide variety of food items from specific trophic guilds (piscivores), or if a species had a specialized diet, the resources demanded are abundant (detritivores). Thus, in a long-term perspective, the food resources used by these species are rarely limiting in aquatic ecosystems, and these feeding characteristics should be one of the key factors determining the colonization success of fishes. Understanding the factors that determine the success of invasive species in new areas is critical for developing management policies aimed at minimizing the impacts of biological invasions.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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