Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/31451
Title: Simple assumptions predicts prey selection by piscivorous fishes
Keywords: Food web structure
Network
Probabilistic models
Niche model
Issue Date: Dec-2016
Publisher: Elsevier
Citation: MONTEIRO, A. B.; FARIA, L. D. B. Simple assumptions predicts prey selection by piscivorous fishes. Ecological Complexity, [S.l.], v. 28, p. 158-162, Dec. 2016.
Abstract: Studies on trophic interactions permits the use of community-wide network analyses to evaluate the consequences of human interventions in natural communities. In this paper, we aimed to get insights into the underlying mechanism of prey selection for four piscivorous species, and evaluate behavioral responses to prey selection after an impoundment. We assemble six food web models to search for the hypothesis that best predict observed prey selection pattern of piscivorous fishes combining the following assumptions: (i) predation window, defined as the size range of prey species consumed by a piscivorous fish; (ii) prey strategies to avoid predation (iii) and prey abundance. We tested the probability of each hypothesis to reproduce two empirical data, one before and one after an impoundment with minimum assumptions. Before impoundment, we found that predators presented switching behavior, preying preferably on abundant prey; while after impoundment, predators consumed prey within its predation window. Those results explained better than the null hypotesis and all other assumptions; and corroborate with both theoretical and empirical studies. We conclude that different assumptions drives piscivorous fish behavior in different environments; and modelling procedures can be used to assess gaps in trophic interactions of fish communities.
URI: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1476945X16300484
http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/31451
Appears in Collections:DBI - Artigos publicados em periódicos

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.