Partitioning of the feeding niche along spatial, seasonal and size dimensions by the fish community in a tropical Bay in Southeastern Brazil

摘要: Feeding guilds and spatial, seasonal ontogenetic changes in the diets of 24 fish species a tropical bay Southeastern Brazil were examined. The hypotheses tested that groups form specific trophic feeding partitioning differs along niche dimensions. Five (Polychaeta, Copepoda, Teleostei, Teleostei/Crustacea Polychaeta/ Crustacea) two with specialised feeding, one teleost (Aspistor luniscutis) bivalvia (Sphoeroides testudineus), found. Polychaeta was most important resource for nine species, followed by Copepoda (6 spp.), Teleostei (5 spp.) Caprelidae Amphipoda (3 spp.). used inner zone, Crustaceans outer zone. We detected predominance between spring autumn, whereas crustaceans consumed at greater rate winter. conspicuous diet occurred spatial dimensions, rather than size accepted. Identifying incorporating information about food web is first step towards developing management strategies are sensitive to this particular ecosystem.