Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Temporal variation in foraging group structure of a size-structured stream fish community

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Temporal variation in foraging group structure of a fish assemblage was examined in a flood-prone stream in southern Hokkaido, Japan. Foraging behaviour was observed underwater for four species which inhabit the water column: ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, white-spotted charr, Salvelinus leucomaenis, masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou, and Japanese dace, Tribolodon hakonensis, with each species being categorized into five size classes (species-size group; SSG). Based on foraging behaviour, each SSG of the fish assemblage was classified into one of four foraging groups: algae grazers, drift foragers, benthos-drift foragers, and omnivores, defined as SSG exhibiting similar foraging behaviour. All size classes of ayu, and of charr and salmon were categorized as algae grazers and drift foragers, respectively, throughout the study period. In contrast, size classes of dace were categorized as drift foragers, benthos-drift foragers, or omnivores with the same size classes often assigned to different foraging groups from month to month. Digestive tract contents of the fishes in the four foraging groups reflected their observed foraging behaviour, and foraging groups were therefore regarded as representing trophic groups. Abundance and membership of each foraging group varied in accordance with changes in abundance of SSG due to their growth, immigration, emigration, and/or mortality. Moreover, due to numerical dominance within the assemblage, plasticity in foraging behaviour of small- and medium-sized dace also played a key role in determining variability in the foraging group structure. Relative frequencies of two types of foraging behaviour, algae nipping and benthos foraging, of the small-sized dace were significantly correlated with the level of each resource, whereas no significant relationship was detected between foraging frequencies of the medium-sized dace and either resource. Fluctuations in foraging group structure within this assemblage occurred through niche shifts of some component members and by changes in SSG composition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Allan, J.D. E. Russek. 1985. The quantification of stream drift. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 42: 210–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Altmann, J. 1974. Observational study of behavior: sampling methods. Behavior 49: 226–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergman, E. L.A. Greenberg. 1994. Competition between a planktivore, a benthivore, and a species with ontogenetic diet shifts. Ecology 75: 1233–1245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J.N. J.C. Roff. 1986. Trophic structure in Southern On tario streams. Ecology 67: 1670–1679.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brabrand, Å. 1985. Food of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and ide (Leusiscus idus): significance of dict shift for interspecific competition in omnivorous fishes. Oecologia 66: 461–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chipps, S.R., W.B. Perry S.A. Perry. 1994. Fish assemblages of the central Appalachian Mountains: an examination of trophic group abundance in nine West Virginian streams. Env. Biol. Fish. 40: 91–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, S. 1992. Fish predation and benthic community structure: the role of omnivory and habitat complexity. Ecology 73: 1646–1661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, S. 1993. Effects of habitat structure on resource availability, diet, and growth of benthivorous perch, Perca fluviatilis. Oikos 67: 403–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebenman, B. L. Persson (ed.) 1988. Size structured populations: ecology and evolution. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 283 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, L.-s., I.-s. Chen, C.-h. Yang, J.-j. Li, J.-t. Wang M.-c. Liu. 1993. The fish community of a high mountain stream in Taiwan and its relation to dam design. Env. Biol. Fish. 38: 321–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fausch, K.D., S. Nakano S. Kitano. 1997. Experimentally induced foraging mode shift by sympatric charrs in a Japanese mountain stream. Behav. Ecol. 8: 414–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furukawa-Tanaka, T. 1985. The ecology of salmonid fishes in Japanese mountain streams. I. Food condition and feeding habit of Japanese charr, Salvelinus leucomaenis (Pallas). Japan. J. Ecol. 35: 481–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garman, G.C. J.R. Moring. 1993. Diel and annual production of two boreal river fishes following clearcut logging. Env. Biol. Fish. 36: 301–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gowan, C., M.K. Young, K.D. Fausch S.C. Riley. 1994. Restricted movement in resident stream salmonids: a paradigm lost? Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51: 2626–2637.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, G.D., P.B. Moyle J.O. Whitaker, Jr. 1982. Stochasticity in structural and functional characteristics of an Indiana stream fish assemblage. Amer. Nat. 120: 423–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grossman, G.D., M.C. Freeman, P.B. Moyle J.O. Whitaker, Jr. 1985. Stochasticity and assemblage organization in an Indiana stream fish assemblage. Amer. Nat. 126: 275–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrell, H.L. 1978. Response of the Devil's River (Texas) fish community to flooding. Copeia 1978: 60–68.

  • Horwitz, R.J. 1978. Temporal variability patterns and the distributional patterns of stream fishes. Ecol. Monogr. 48: 307–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katano, O. 1987. ‘Individual mosaic’ hypothesis on ecology of omnivorous cyprinids. Freshwater Fish Final Volume: 55–62 (in Japanese).

  • Kawanabe, H. 1970. Social behaviour and production of ayufish in the River Ukawa between 1955 and 1969, with reference to the stability of its territoriality. Japan. J. Ecol. 20: 144–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawanabe, H. N. Mizuno (ed.) 1989. Freshwater fishes of Japan. Yama-Kei Publishers, Tokyo, 719 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause, J. 1993. The relationship between for aging and shoal position in a mixed shoal of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and chub (Leuciscus cephalus): a field study. Oecologia 93: 356–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langeland, A., J.H. L'Abee-Lund, B. Jonsson N. Jonsson. 1991. Resource partitioning and niche shift in arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus and brown trout Salmo trutta. J. Anim. Ecol. 60: 895–912.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lobón-Cerviá, J. P.A. Rincón. 1994. Trophic ecology of red roach (Rutilus arcasii) in a seasonal stream: an example of detritivory as a feeding tactic. Fresh. Biol. 32: 123–132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magalhâes, M.F. 1993. Feeding of an Iberian stream cyprinid assemblage: seasonality of resource use in a highly variable environment. Oecologia 96: 253–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meffe, G.K. A.L. Sheldon. 1990. Post-defaunation recovery of fish assemblages in southeastern blackwater streams. Ecology 71: 657–667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyadi, D. 1960. A story of ayu. Iwanami-shoten, Tokyo 226 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mizuno, N., H. Kawanabe, D. Miyadi, S. Mori, H. Kodama, R. Ohgushi, A. Kusakabe Y. Furuya. 1958. Life history of some stream fishes with special reference to four cyprinid species. Bulletin of Physiology and Ecology, College of Science, University of Kyoto 81: 1–48 (in Japanese).

  • Nakamura, M. 1969. Cyprinid fishes of Japan — studies on the life history of cyprinid fishes of Japan. Research Institute for Natural Resources Press, Tokyo, 455 pp. (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, S. 1995a. Individual differences in resource use, growth, and emigration under the influence of a dominance hierarchy in fluvial red-spotted masu salmon in a natural habitat. J. Anim. Ecol. 64: 75–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, S. 1995b. Competitive interactions for foraging microhabitats in a size-structured interspecific dominance hierarchy of two sympatric stream salmonics in a natural habitat. Can. J. Zool. 73: 1845–1854.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, S., T. Kachi M. Nagoshi. 1990. Restricted movement of the fluvial form of red-spotted masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou rhodurus, in a mountain stream, central Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 38: 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakano, S. T. Furukawa-Tanaka. 1994. Intra-and interspecific dominance hierarchies and variation in foraging tactics of two species of stream-dwelling chars. Ecol. Res. 9: 9–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Northcote, T.G. 1978. Migratory strategies and production in freshwater fishes. pp. 326–359. In: S.D. Gerking (ed.) Ecology of Freshwater Fish Production, Halsted Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orth, D.J. 1983. Aquatic habitat measurements. pp. 61–84. In: L.A. Neilsen D.L. Johnson (ed.) Fisheries Techniques, Amer. Fish. Soc., Bethesda.

    Google Scholar 

  • Power, M.E. 1987. Predator avoidance by grazing fishes in temperate and tropical streams: importance of stream depth and prey size. pp. 333–351. In: W.C. Kerfoot A. Sih (ed.) Predation: Direct and Indirect Impacts on Aquatic Communities. University Press of New England, Hanover.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. 1982a. Fish community structure and function along two habitat gradients in a headwater stream. Ecol. Monogr. 52: 395–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. 1982b. Trophic structure, reproductive success, and growth rate of fishes in a natural and modified headwater stream. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39: 968–978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. 1987a. A conceptual framework for fish communities in small warmwater streams. pp. 17–24. In: W.J. Matthews D.C. Heins (ed.) Community and Evolutionary Ecology of North American Stream Fishes, University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. 1987b. The role of predation in age-and size-related habitat use by stream fishes. Ecology 68: 651–659.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. 1988. Predation risk and habitat selection by two size classes of a stream cyprinid: experimental test of a hypothesis. Oikos 52: 36–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. 1995. Dispersal, boundary processes, and trophic-level interactions in streams adjacent to behaver ponds. Ecology 76: 908–925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlosser, I.J. L.A. Toth. 1984. Niche relationships and population ecology of rainbow (Etheostoma caeruleum) and fantail (E. flabeilare) darters in a temporally variable environment. Oikos 42: 229–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sokal, R.R. F.J. Rohlf. 1981. Biometry. W.H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, 859 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanida, K., K. Yamashita A. Rossiter. 1985. A portable current meter for field use. Japan. J. Limn. 46: 219–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanida, K., T. Maruyama Y. Saito. 1989. Feeding ecology of Japanese charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis) in a high moor and adjacent streams in central Japan. Physiol. Ecol. Japan. Spec. Vol. 1: 279–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E.E. 1986. Species interactions in freshwater communities. pp. 344–358. In: J.M. Diamond T.J. Case (ed.) Community Ecology, Harper Row, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E.E. J.F. Gilliam. 1984. The ontogenetic niche and species interactions in size-structured populations. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 15: 393–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E.E. D.J. Hall. 1988. Ontogenetic habitat shifts in bluegill: the foraging rate-predation risk trade-off. Ecology 69: 1352–1366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker, Jr. J.O. 1976. Seasonal changes in food habits of some cyprinid fishes from the White River at Petersburg, Indiana. Amer. Midl. Nat. 97: 411–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winemiller, K.O. 1989. Ontogenetic diet shifts and resource partitioning among piscivorous fishes in the Venezuelan llanos. Env. Biol. Fish. 26: 177–199.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wooton, R.J. 1992. Fish ecology. Chapman and Hall, New York. 212 pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biodiversity Group, Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060, Japan

    Usio Nisikawa

  2. Tomakomai Research Station, Hokkaido University Forests, Takaoka, Tomakomai, 053, Japan

    Shigeru Nakano

Authors
  1. Usio Nisikawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shigeru Nakano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nisikawa, U., Nakano, S. Temporal variation in foraging group structure of a size-structured stream fish community. Environmental Biology of Fishes 52, 357–370 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007363927379

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007363927379

Search

Navigation