Contrasting intraspecific dietary shifts in two terapontid assemblages from Australia's wet-dry tropics
Author(s)
Davis, Aaron M
Pusey, Bradley J
Pearson, Richard G
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2012
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This study assessed the size-related patterns of dietary resource use in terapontid assemblages from two north Australian wet-dry tropical river systems exhibiting contrasting long-term flow regimes. Substantially higher size-related dietary divergence in the form of additional trophic guilds and lower levels of dietary overlap were evident among terapontids from the comparatively stable Daly River system, particularly during the dry season. Relatively restricted expression of size-related dietary shifts in conjunction with higher levels of dietary overlap and no significant seasonal effects on dietary overlap were features ...
View more >This study assessed the size-related patterns of dietary resource use in terapontid assemblages from two north Australian wet-dry tropical river systems exhibiting contrasting long-term flow regimes. Substantially higher size-related dietary divergence in the form of additional trophic guilds and lower levels of dietary overlap were evident among terapontids from the comparatively stable Daly River system, particularly during the dry season. Relatively restricted expression of size-related dietary shifts in conjunction with higher levels of dietary overlap and no significant seasonal effects on dietary overlap were features of assemblage interaction in the highly variable Burdekin River. Results highlight size-related dietary shifts as a complex aspect of terapontid trophic habits, and one that can exhibit considerable spatial dynamism.
View less >
View more >This study assessed the size-related patterns of dietary resource use in terapontid assemblages from two north Australian wet-dry tropical river systems exhibiting contrasting long-term flow regimes. Substantially higher size-related dietary divergence in the form of additional trophic guilds and lower levels of dietary overlap were evident among terapontids from the comparatively stable Daly River system, particularly during the dry season. Relatively restricted expression of size-related dietary shifts in conjunction with higher levels of dietary overlap and no significant seasonal effects on dietary overlap were features of assemblage interaction in the highly variable Burdekin River. Results highlight size-related dietary shifts as a complex aspect of terapontid trophic habits, and one that can exhibit considerable spatial dynamism.
View less >
Journal Title
Ecology of Freshwater Fish
Volume
21
Issue
1
Subject
Ecosystem function
Ecology
Zoology
Fisheries sciences