Selectividad del zooplancton y solapamiento trófico entre tallas del pez Menidia humboldtiana (Atheriniformes: Atherinopsidae) en el embalse Danxhó, México

ABSTRACT

Selectivity of zooplankton and trophic overlap between size Menidia humboldtiana fish (Atheriniformes Atherinopsidae) in the reservoir Danxhó, Mexico. The Menidia humboldtiana silverside is considered one of the most important species in fisheries in some states of Mexico. Knowing the choice that this species exercises over its food gives us an understanding of the behavior of zooplankton in presence of zooplanktonic fish, and tells us if the silverside choose amongst bigger prey fish, and if there is competition for food between the native and introduced fish in the reservoir. The purpose of this study was to determine if M. humboldtiana selects its food, and in which genera, and to establish whether there was an overlap in the diet of the different sizes of silverside. The fish were catched with a 88 mm mesh net, in six sampling points during one year, from Danxhó (19°5´17" - 53´46" N, 99° 32´42" - 35´40" W) reservoir. Samples of filtered zooplankton were also taken with a 125 micron net. The analysis of stomach contents was carried out in fish grouped by regular size intervals during each season of the year, using the volumetric method and Chesson’s selectivity coefficient. To evaluate the trophic overlap between the different size groups, the Morisita index, modified by Horn, was used. The zooplankton community was represented by twelve genera Mastigodiaptomus and Cyclops (Copepoda); Bosmina, Diaphanosoma, Daphnia, Ceriodaphnia, Moina, Alonopsis and Camptocercus, (Cladocera); Asplanchna, Conochillus and Filinia (Rotifera). Mastigodiaptomus was the most abundant throughout the year. The silverside consumed only four genera Bosmina, Mastigodiaptomus, Daphnia and Ceriodaphnia; the group measuring 5 to 8.9 cm consumed a high percentage of Bosmina, Mastigodiaptomus and Daphnia, and a lesser percentage of Ceriodaphnia. The larger fish (9 to 10.9 cm) consumed only Mastigodiaptomus and Daphnia. In accordance with the selectivity values, the small and medium size silverside selected their prey, with more intensity on the genera Bosmina and Daphnia, while the bigger fish concentrated on Daphnia and Mastigodiaptomus. During spring, the silverside between 3 to 8.9 cm showed overlap in diet; in summer the bigger size group (7-10.9 cm) showed the overlap. In autumm the overlap ocurred in all sizes, and in winter it was shown only in the medium size fish (5-8.9 cm). Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (1-2) 187-194. Epub 2009 June 30.

RESUMEN

El charal Menidia humboldtiana es considerado como una de las especies de gran importancia en la industria pesquera de algunos estados de México. Es necesario conocer el efecto que esta especie ejerce sobre su alimento para saber si seleccionan las presas de mayor talla, si hay competencia por el alimento entre especies nativas e introducidas, y para comprender el comportamiento del zooplancton ante peces zooplanctófagos. Se determinó si M. humboldtiana selecciona su alimento, sobre qué géneros lo hace, y si existe traslape en la dieta entre las diferentes tallas. Los peces se recolectaron por medio de un chinchorro de 88 mm de abertura de malla, en seis estaciones de muestreo durante un año, en el embalse Danxhó, y una muestra de zooplancton fue recolectada por filtrado con una red de 125 µm. El análisis de los contenidos estomacales se realizó en peces agrupados en intervalos de longitud estándar para cada época del año, por medio del método volumétrico. Para evaluar el traslape trófico entre los diferentes intervalos de longitud, se utilizó el índice de Morisita modificado por Horn. El zooplancton estuvo representado por doce géneros Mastigodiaptomus y Cyclops (Copepoda); Bosmina, Diaphanosoma, Daphnia, Ceriodaphnia, Moina, Alonopsis y Camptocercus (Cladocera); Asplanchna, Conochillus y Filinia (Rotifera). Durante la primavera, los charales de 3-8.9 cm presentaron un marcado traslape, para el verano fueron los grandes (7-10.9 cm), en otoño el traslape fue en todas las tallas, y en invierno solo las tallas intermedias (5-8.9 cm) lo presentaron.