Feeding ecology and seasonal diet overlap between Stellifer brasiliensis and Stellifer stellifer in a tropical estuarine ecocline.

摘要: Seasonal freshwater discharge was important for defining habitat utilization by different ontogenetic phases of Stellifer brasiliensis and stellifer along the estuarine ecocline. The middle estuary as a nursery feeding ground young-of-the-year, sub-adults adults both species. These species are zoobenthivorous, but during their life cycle between habitats seasons, trophic guild can change to opportunist zooplanktivore. During late rainy season in lower estuary, all species, except juveniles S. stellifer, showed niche overlap indicating similarity prey utilization. diet composition qualitatively similar, showing an evident intra interspecific competition among spp. Although niches these appeared significantly overlap, some resource partitioning patterns were apparent. reduced due seasonal difference use consumption ecocline phases. ingestion blue nylon fragments observed quantified.