Trophic ecology of northern Australia's terapontids: ontogenetic dietary shifts and feeding classification

Davis, A.M., Pearson, R.G., Pusey, B.J., Perna, C., Morgan, D.L., and Burrows, D. (2011) Trophic ecology of northern Australia's terapontids: ontogenetic dietary shifts and feeding classification. Journal of Fish Biology, 78 (1). pp. 265-286.

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Abstract

The diets of 21 terapontid species from freshwater environments in northern Australia were investigated to determine the similarity and dissimilarity among species and the extent of any ontogenetic shifts. Distinct ontogenetic dietary shifts occurred in all species for which sufficient data were available, with many species passing through several discrete trophic categories during their life histories. Diets of all juvenile terapontids were similar, mainly comprising aquatic insects and zooplankton. Larger size classes of terapontids diverged into a broad spectrum of feeding groups comprising carnivorous dietary modes (including piscivory and lepidophagy), omnivory (including frugivory and consumption of allochthonous prey), herbivory and detritivory. The results indicate that the terapontids represent Australia's most trophically diverse freshwater fish family.

Item ID: 20161
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1095-8649
Keywords: diet; herbivory; ontogeny; Terapontidae; trophic divergence
Date Deposited: 27 Feb 2012 03:03
FoR Codes: 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0602 Ecology > 060204 Freshwater Ecology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960807 Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100%
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