Document Type

Poster

Abstract

  • Sympatric species maintain divergent food habits (feeding ecology) in order to release each other from competing for limited food resources (1, 2).
  • Two congeners coexist in North American lakes: suction-feeding bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus feeds primarily on soft, elusive, and planktonic prey whereas durophagous redear, Lepomis microlophus eats hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams (1, 2).
  • Is ecological divergence consistent with functional or biomechanical divergence in these sympatric fishes?
  • This study compares growth trajectories of feeding biomechanics that underlie feeding performance in sympatric Florida sunfishes with the dietary prey items.

Publication Date

2015

Comments

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Ralph G. Turingan

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