Ecological differences between hamlet (Hypoplectrus : Serranidae) colour morphs: between-morph variation in diet
Back to previous page
| Authors: | Whiteman, EA; Côté, IM; Reynolds, JD |
| Year: | 2007 |
| Journal: | Journal of Fish Biology 71: 235-244 PDF Article Link (DOI) |
| Title: | Ecological differences between hamlet (Hypoplectrus : Serranidae) colour morphs: between-morph variation in diet |
| Abstract: | Dietary differences between hamlet Hypoplectrus spp. colour morphs were examined in fishes from Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Curacao, Honduras and Belize. Hamlet diet across all countries was characterized by large overlap between most colour morphs in both the proportion and numbers of dietary items consumed, although some differences between morphs were apparent. Indigo hamlets Hypoplectrus indigo were the only morph to consume fishes (blue chromis Chromis cyanea and sunshinefish Chromis insolata) almost exclusively. The sympatric occurrence of other ecologically indistinguishable colour morphs, however, suggests that divergent ecological selection alone cannot explain population divergence in hamlets. Geographical variation in diet was also observed within black Hypoplectrus nigricans and yellowtail Hypoplectrus chlorurus hamlets which may reflect geographical differences in prey availability or differences in prey choice. (c) 2007 The Authors Journal compilation. (c) 2007 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. |
Please send suggestions for improving this publication database to
sass-support@sfu.ca.
Departmental members may update their publication list.