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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 75(6)

Unravelling a specialised diet of an Amazonian catfish in a controlled flood-pulse area by combining stomach-content and stable-isotope analyses

Izabella Cristina da Silva Penha https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2795-9735 A * , Lidia Brasil Seabra A , Erival Gonçalves Prata https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9301-9004 A , Tiago Magalhães da Silva Freitas https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3203-3408 B and Luciano Fogaça de Assis Montag A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Rua Augusto Corrêa, 01, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil.

B Laboratório de Zoologia, Faculdade de Ciências Naturais, Campus Universitário do Marajó-Breves, Universidade Federal do Pará, Alameda IV, 3418, Breves 68000-000, PA, Brazil.

* Correspondence to: engizabellacristina@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Max Finlayson

Marine and Freshwater Research 75, MF23039 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF23039
Submitted: 20 March 2023  Accepted: 15 March 2024  Published: 12 April 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Hydrological dynamics are crucial in fish ecology.

Aims

To evaluate the effect of the flood pulse on the feeding ecology of Doras higuchii in the reduced-flow section of the Belo Monte dam, Xingu River, Brazil.

Methods

Collections were conducted between December 2020 and November 2021. The fish were measured and had their stomachs removed. Muscle tissue was also extracted for stable-isotope analysis. Stomach contents were inspected to assess diet, testing the influence of hydrological periods by using GLM. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the flood pulse on the δ13C and isotopic ratios of individuals

Results

In total, 362 specimens of D. higuchii were analysed, highlighting a diet mainly on the basis of sediment (74.9%) and aquatic insects (24.8%), not varying between periods characterising the species as a specialist for having detritivorous habit, as well as the extension of the trophic niche. There was variation in food intensity, with higher average food consumption in the flood period. The isotopic composition (δ13C and δ15N) also did not differ between periods. Finally, δ15N did not vary by length class.

Conclusions

This information helps understand the interface between environmental and biological factors in an environment affected by a hydroelectric dam.

Implications

Our results may help fill gaps in knowledge about the diet of doradid fishes.

Keywords: Amazon, catfish, feeding ecology, fish, flood pulse, stable isotope, Xingu River.

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