Opportunistic Feeding in Mediterranean Blennioid Fishes (Blenniidae and Tripterygion) as Revealed by Experimental Food Provisioning in the Field |
| |
Authors: | Kurt Kotrschal Dave G.Lindquist Ingeborg P. Illich |
| |
Affiliation: | Konrad-Lorenz-Forschungsstclle fur Ethologie, Auingerhof 11, A-4645 Griinau, Austria.;The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Wilmington, NC 28403-3297, USA.;Haus der Natur, Museumsplatz, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria. |
| |
Abstract: | Abstract. Consistent differences were found in trophic opportunism between species and between sexes by food provisioning experiments in an assemblage of 15 species of Mediterranean blennioid fishes. The degree of trophic opportunism in the different species was significantly and positively correlated with body size and two features indicative for intensity of male parental care. The degree of trophic opportunism correlated neither with trophic level, depth distribution, or relative abundance. Females of all species in which sex could be distinguished visited the feeding stations at higher frequencies than conspecific males. |
| |
Keywords: | Adriatic reef fishes benthic fish assemblage ecology experimental feeding guild |
|
|