Experimental assessment of the effects of a Neotropical nocturnal piscivore on juvenile native and invasive fishes
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Author
Santos, Alejandra F. G. N.
Santos, Luciano N.
Hayashi, Carmino
García-Berthou, Emili
Publication date
2012-03-30ISSN
1679-6225
Abstract
We experimentally examined the predator-prey relationships between juvenile spotted sorubim Pseudoplastystoma corruscans
and young-of-the-year invasive and native fish species of the Paraná River basin, Brazil. Three invasive (peacock bass Cichla
piquiti, Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, and channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus) and two native (yellowtail tetra Astyanax
altiparanae and streaked prochilod Prochilodus lineatus) fish species were offered as prey to P. corruscans in 300 L aquaria
with three habitat complexity treatments (0%, 50% and 100% structure-covered). Prey survival was variable through time and
among species (C. piquiti < O. niloticus < A. altiparanae < P. lineatus < I. punctatus), depending largely on species-specific
prey behavior but also on prey size and morphological defenses. Habitat complexity did not directly affect P. corruscans
piscivory but some prey species changed their microhabitat use and shoaling behavior among habitat treatments in predator’s
presence. Pseudoplatystoma corruscans preyed preferentially on smaller individuals of those invasive species with weak
morphological defensive features that persisted in a non-shoaling behavior. Overall, our results contrast with those in a
companion experiment using a diurnal predator, suggesting that nocturnal piscivores preferentially prey on different (rather
diurnal) fish species and are less affected by habitat complexity. Our findings suggest that recovering the native populations
of P. corruscans might help controling some fish species introduced to the Paraná River basin, particularly C. piquiti and O.
niloticus, whose parental care is expected to be weak or null at night.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
574 - General ecology and biodiversity
Pages
10
Publisher
Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia
Is part of
Neotropical Ichthyology
Citation
Santos, Alejandra F.G.N., Carles Alcaraz, Luciano Neves Dos Santos, Carmino Hayashi, and Emili García‐Berthou. 2012. “Experimental Assessment of the Effects of a Neotropical Nocturnal Piscivore on Juvenile Native and Invasive Fishes.” Neotropical Ichthyology. 10 (1): 167–76. doi:10.1590/s1679-62252012000100016.
Grant agreement number
MEC/ /CGL2006-11652-C02-01/ES/EXITO INVASOR DE LA GAMBUSIA (GAMBUSIA HOLBROOKI): PLASTICIDAD ECOLOGICA/BOS
MICINN/Programa Nacional de Proyectos de Investigación Fundamental/ CGL2009-12877-C02-01/ES/ /
Program
Aigües Marines i Continentals
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- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2555]
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/