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Ecophysiology of Aufwuchs-eating cichlids in Lake Tanganyika: niche separation by trophic specialization

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Synopsis

The Aufwuchs-eating cichlids of Lake Tanganyika show clear trophic differences that are correlated to their morphology, physiology and foraging behaviour. The species are grouped into three categories of relative intestinal length according to their feeding habits. A correlation between the intestinal length and the diet could be demonstrated, ranging from around 2.5 for species ingesting more animal food, to 7.8 for detritivorous and microalgivorous species. The relative intestinal length of domesticTropheus moorii, raised in aquaria was significantly lower than that of wild individuals by a factor of 1.7, demonstrating a wide range of phenotypic adaptability. The activities of trypsin and amylase were at an equal level in four Aufwuchseating species, but the activity of laminarinase of a detritivorous-microalgivorous species (Petrochromis orthognathus) was 2.6 times higher than that of an algivorous species (Tropheus moorii). The laminarinase seems to be an excellent marker enzyme for detritivorous or microalgivorous feeding.

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Author notes

  1. Christian Sturmbauer

    Present address: Department of Ecology and Evolution, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5245, U.S.A.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Department of Zoophysiology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020, Insbruck, Austria

    Christian Sturmbauer, Wolfgang Mark & Reinhard Dallinger

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  2. Wolfgang Mark
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Sturmbauer, C., Mark, W. & Dallinger, R. Ecophysiology of Aufwuchs-eating cichlids in Lake Tanganyika: niche separation by trophic specialization. Environ Biol Fish 35, 283–290 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001895

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001895

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