Body shape variation in relation to resource partitioning within cichlid trophic guilds coexisting along the rocky shore of Lake Malawi

Autor:	Daud Kassam, Aggrey J. D. Ambali, Dean C. Adams, Kosaku Yamaoka
Rok vydání:	2003
Předmět:	Morphometrics biology Cichlid Ecology Petrotilapia genalutea Animal Science and Zoology Copadichromis borleyi Ctenopharynx pictus Labeotropheus fuelleborni biology.organism_classification Zooplankton Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Trophic level
Zdroj:	Animal Biology. 53:59-70
ISSN:	1570-7563 1570-7555
Popis:	Abstract To appreciate better how cichlids segregate along the trophic, spatial and temporal dimensions, it is necessary to understand the cichlids' body design, and its role in resource partitioning. We investigated body shape variation, quantified using landmark-based geometric morphometrics, among cichlid species belonging to algal and zooplankton feeders coexisting along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, in order to elucidate the adaptive significance of body shape. Significant differences were found within zooplankton feeders in which Copadichromis borleyi had a shorter gape, smaller eyes and shorter caudal peduncle relative to Ctenopharynx pictus and, within algal feeders, Labeotropheus fuelleborni had a shorter and inferior subterminal gape, and shorter head relative to Petrotilapia genalutea. Variation among species is discussed with reference to trophic and feeding microhabitat differentiation which enables us to appreciate the role of body shape in enhancing ecological separation, and thus leads to coexistence among cichlid species.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::86982b7eed9dbe2305f5bfb815a0e610 https://doi.org/10.1163/157075603769682585 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Plný text ve formátu PDF