Name: Juliana Martins de Andrade
Type: MSc dissertation
Publication date: 07/05/2019
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| Jean-Christophe Joyeux | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| Raphael Mariano Macieira | External Examiner * |
| Jean-Christophe Joyeux | Advisor * |
| Ana Carolina de Azevedo Mazzuco | Internal Examiner * |
Summary: II. Abstract
To investigate the plasticity of the niche by virtue of ontogeny of fish from
intertidal environments, trophic and functional ecology was studied from different
ichthyofauna ontogenetic phases on continental and insular intertidal reefs through
stable isotope analyzes and functional ecomorphology analyzes. In order to this, seven
representative taxa in abundance from each site, belonging to different trophic groups,
were divided into macrocarnivores (MCAR), mobile invertebrates feeders (MINV),
omnivores (OMNI), territorial herbivores (THER) and roving herbivores (RHER). Each
species was divided into two size classes (small and large) to investigate the variation of
the intraspecific ecological niche. The data acquired from the carbon (δ13C) and
nitrogen (δ15N) signatures were analyzed using the SIBER model, which calculates and
extracts the isotopic niches, and functional ecomorphology analysis to determine the
functional niche and how morphology change during growth. The functional niches
change in all species, WHEREas the isotopic niches varied according to the trophic group,
behavior and locality. Morphology and eating habits are essential factors that directed
ontogenetic variation of niche in different ways among trophic groups, but are not
sufficient to determine the niche occupied by the ontogenetic phases. Factors such as
behavior and habitat also exert influence on niche variation, making intraspecific
competition difficult.
Key words: Tidal pool, Trindade Island, ecological relations, trophic niche.
