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Effects of structural heterogeneity provided by the floating macrophyte Eichhornia azurea on the predation efficiency and habitat use of the small Neotropical fish Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

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Abstract

Macrophytes have a fundamental structuring role in aquatic environments. Several authors have suggested that trophic interactions are particularly mediated by aquatic plants. In the current article, we evaluated the effects of the structural heterogeneity provided by Eichhornia azurea (Kunth) roots on predation and habitat use by the small fish Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae (Steindachner). We tested the hypotheses that (i) high structural heterogeneity protects macroinvertebrates against predation by M. sanctaefilomenae; (ii) distinct prey types are differently protected by the refuge provided by roots; and (iii) the behavior of M. sanctaefilomenae is affected by the structural heterogeneity provided by macrophyte roots. To test these hypotheses, we performed an experiment in 20 l aquaria in which macroinvertebrates (Cypricercus sp. and Chironomus sp.) were exposed to M. sanctaefilomenae predation for 4 h under three structural heterogeneities, represented by different root densities. High structural heterogeneity protected macroinvertebrates against predation. Additionally, E. azurea roots similarly protected different prey species. The macrophyte spatial structure substantially changed the habitat use of M. sanctaefilomenae. In general, our results corroborated the hypothesis that the structural heterogeneity provided by E. azurea roots significantly affects predation and habitat use by M. sanctaefilomenae.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Dr. Leonardo Maltchik for his valuable comments during the creation of this article. We are also grateful to Dr. Steven Declerck and one anonymous reviewer for valuable comments during previous drafts of this article. We also acknowledge the Program of Graduation in Ecology of Inland Waters and the NUPELIA (Nucleon of Research in Limnology, Ichthyology and Aquaculture) of Maringá State University for the facilities. A. A. Padial received a student fellowship from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). S. M. Thomaz and A. A. Agostinho are researchers of the Brazilian Council of Research (CNPq) and acknowledge this agency for long-term funding.

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  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia & Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Rodovia Goiânia-Nerópolis, Km 5, Cx.P. 131, Goiânia, GO, 74001-970, Brazil

    André Andrian Padial

  2. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aqüicultura (Nupélia) – UEM, Avenida Colombo, 5790, Maringá, PR, 87020-900, Brazil

    André Andrian Padial, Sidinei Magela Thomaz & Angelo Antonio Agostinho

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  1. André Andrian Padial
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Correspondence to André Andrian Padial.

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Padial, A.A., Thomaz, S.M. & Agostinho, A.A. Effects of structural heterogeneity provided by the floating macrophyte Eichhornia azurea on the predation efficiency and habitat use of the small Neotropical fish Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae . Hydrobiologia 624, 161–170 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-008-9690-8

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