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Intra and not interspecific competition drives intra-populational variation in resource use by a neotropical fish species

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Abstract

Intra and interspecific competition may influence the strength of individual specialization in resource use. We evaluated how intra and interspecific competition affects the degree of individual specialization in food resource use within sub-populations of Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus. To do so, we identified food items from fishes collected in the Pantanal wetland. We tested whether individual specialization was related to H. unitaeniatus density (a proxy of intraspecific competition) or to the density of a potential interspecific competitor (Hoplias malabaricus) using a multiple regression. Dietary variation was related to ontogeny. Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus density, instead of Hoplias malabaricus density, had an effect on the specialization of H. unitaeniatus individuals. A greater the density of H. unitaeniatus leads to a greater individual specialization. Our results point to a lack of specialization in H. unitaeniatus individuals. In addition, intra and not interspecific competition affected the use of food resources. Individuals of denser populations may consume secondary resources, reducing the effects of intraspecific competition and becoming more specialists.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Soraia Diniz, Thiago J. Izzo, Christine Strüssmann and Jean C.G. Ortega for their criticism in early versions of this manuscript. Márcio S. Araújo for constructive comment and resolution of fundamental doubts. A.M. thanks the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for a scholarship, process number 132585/2012-0.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil

    Angélica Mendes

  2. Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Campus Universitário de Rolim de Moura, Rolim de Moura, RO, Brazil

    Izaias Médice Fernandes

  3. Centro de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil

    Jerry Penha & Lúcia Mateus

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  1. Angélica Mendes
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Correspondence to Angélica Mendes.

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Mendes, A., Fernandes, I.M., Penha, J. et al. Intra and not interspecific competition drives intra-populational variation in resource use by a neotropical fish species. Environ Biol Fish 102, 1097–1105 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00892-5

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