Abstract
Resource polymorphisms, or morphological variations related to resource use, are common in fishes and are thought to be a possible step in speciation. This study experimentally tests the hypothesis that fitness (as estimated by growth rates) is increased by the presence of multiple trophic morphotypes (or morphs) within a population. Cage experiments were used to quantify the intraspecific competitive interactions between morphs of the polymorphic cichlid Herichthys minckleyi in Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Results suggest that competition is reduced between morphs in mixed-morph treatments relative to equal-density single-morph treatments. Field studies revealed that the morphs feed in different microhabitats and use different feeding behaviors within these microhabitats. These results suggest that the polymorphism is maintained in the population because it decreases competition between the morphs, and that differences in feeding behavior facilitate resource partitioning.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1441-1446 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Ecology |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2003 |
Keywords
- Cichlid
- Competition
- Ecological speciation
- Feeding behavior
- Herichthys minckleyi
- Intraspecific variation
- Polymorphism
- Resource partitioning
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
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Dive into the research topics of 'Trophic polymorphism and behavioral differences decrease intraspecific competition in a cichlid, Herichthys minckleyi'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Datasets
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TROPHIC POLYMORPHISM AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFERENCES DECREASE INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION IN A CICHLID, HERICHTHYS MINCKLEYI
Swanson, B. O. (Creator), Gibb, A. C. (Creator), Marks, J. C. (Creator) & Hendrickson, D. A. (Creator), figshare Academic Research System, 2016
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3297821.v1, https://figshare.com/collections/TROPHIC_POLYMORPHISM_AND_BEHAVIORAL_DIFFERENCES_DECREASE_INTRASPECIFIC_COMPETITION_IN_A_CICHLID_HERICHTHYS_MINCKLEYI/3297821/1
Dataset
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Appendix A. A table of microhabitat use by morphotypes of Herichthys minckleyi.
Swanson, B. O. (Creator), Gibb, A. C. (Creator), Marks, J. C. (Creator) & Hendrickson, D. A. (Creator), figshare Academic Research System, 2016
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.3522698.v1, https://wiley.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Appendix_A_A_table_of_microhabitat_use_by_morphotypes_of_Herichthys_minckleyi_/3522698/1
Dataset
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Appendix B. A table of feeding behaviors used by morphotypes of Herichthys minckleyi.
Swanson, B. O. (Creator), Gibb, A. C. (Creator), Marks, J. C. (Creator) & Hendrickson, D. A. (Creator), figshare Academic Research System, 2016
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.3522695.v1, https://wiley.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Appendix_B_A_table_of_feeding_behaviors_used_by_morphotypes_of_Herichthys_minckleyi_/3522695/1
Dataset