Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia

ABSTRACT Ecomorphological patterns of the fish community were evaluated in the trans-Andean Alvarado River drainage, Colombia. A total of 29 species using 25 ecomorphological indices were analyzed to test how well the ecomorphological patterns are related to the fish assemblage. Although a significant correlation was found (Mantel test) between morphological attributes and trophic guilds, habitat use and distribution across the altitudinal gradient, only the last two were significantly independent of the phylogenetic relationships (partial Mantel test). Regarding the ecomorphological space, two main trends were defined. First, benthic periphytivores and invertivores were characterized by having dorsal or dorsolateral eyes, labial appendages, depressed bodies and well-developed pectoral, ventral and caudal fins, which provide them the ability to stabilize over the substrate and make rapid movements. Second, nektonic detritivore-invertivores and insectivores were found to have laterally compressed bodies, lateral eyes and larger eyes and anal fins. These species use vision during predation, are good continuous swimmers and possess higher maneuverability and stability. These results show that the fish assemblages in the Alvarado River drainage are structured ecomorphologically mainly by habitat and the altitudinal gradient. Therefore, this is evidence of the importance of habitat structure to maintain the functionality of the ecosystem.

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Main Authors: Conde-Saldaña,Cristhian C., Albornoz-Garzón,Juan G., López-Delgado,Edwin O., Villa-Navarro,Francisco A.
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia 2017
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252017000400204
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spelling oai:scielo:S1679-622520170004002042018-01-15Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, ColombiaConde-Saldaña,Cristhian C.Albornoz-Garzón,Juan G.López-Delgado,Edwin O.Villa-Navarro,Francisco A. Alvarado River drainage Community ecology Habitat use Morphological diversity Neotropical region ABSTRACT Ecomorphological patterns of the fish community were evaluated in the trans-Andean Alvarado River drainage, Colombia. A total of 29 species using 25 ecomorphological indices were analyzed to test how well the ecomorphological patterns are related to the fish assemblage. Although a significant correlation was found (Mantel test) between morphological attributes and trophic guilds, habitat use and distribution across the altitudinal gradient, only the last two were significantly independent of the phylogenetic relationships (partial Mantel test). Regarding the ecomorphological space, two main trends were defined. First, benthic periphytivores and invertivores were characterized by having dorsal or dorsolateral eyes, labial appendages, depressed bodies and well-developed pectoral, ventral and caudal fins, which provide them the ability to stabilize over the substrate and make rapid movements. Second, nektonic detritivore-invertivores and insectivores were found to have laterally compressed bodies, lateral eyes and larger eyes and anal fins. These species use vision during predation, are good continuous swimmers and possess higher maneuverability and stability. These results show that the fish assemblages in the Alvarado River drainage are structured ecomorphologically mainly by habitat and the altitudinal gradient. Therefore, this is evidence of the importance of habitat structure to maintain the functionality of the ecosystem.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessSociedade Brasileira de IctiologiaNeotropical Ichthyology v.15 n.4 20172017-01-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articletext/htmlhttp://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252017000400204en10.1590/1982-0224-20170037
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countrycode BR
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libraryname SciELO
language English
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author Conde-Saldaña,Cristhian C.
Albornoz-Garzón,Juan G.
López-Delgado,Edwin O.
Villa-Navarro,Francisco A.
spellingShingle Conde-Saldaña,Cristhian C.
Albornoz-Garzón,Juan G.
López-Delgado,Edwin O.
Villa-Navarro,Francisco A.
Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia
author_facet Conde-Saldaña,Cristhian C.
Albornoz-Garzón,Juan G.
López-Delgado,Edwin O.
Villa-Navarro,Francisco A.
author_sort Conde-Saldaña,Cristhian C.
title Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia
title_short Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia
title_full Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia
title_fullStr Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-Andean drainage, Upper Magdalena River Basin, Colombia
title_sort ecomorphological relationships of fish assemblages in a trans-andean drainage, upper magdalena river basin, colombia
description ABSTRACT Ecomorphological patterns of the fish community were evaluated in the trans-Andean Alvarado River drainage, Colombia. A total of 29 species using 25 ecomorphological indices were analyzed to test how well the ecomorphological patterns are related to the fish assemblage. Although a significant correlation was found (Mantel test) between morphological attributes and trophic guilds, habitat use and distribution across the altitudinal gradient, only the last two were significantly independent of the phylogenetic relationships (partial Mantel test). Regarding the ecomorphological space, two main trends were defined. First, benthic periphytivores and invertivores were characterized by having dorsal or dorsolateral eyes, labial appendages, depressed bodies and well-developed pectoral, ventral and caudal fins, which provide them the ability to stabilize over the substrate and make rapid movements. Second, nektonic detritivore-invertivores and insectivores were found to have laterally compressed bodies, lateral eyes and larger eyes and anal fins. These species use vision during predation, are good continuous swimmers and possess higher maneuverability and stability. These results show that the fish assemblages in the Alvarado River drainage are structured ecomorphologically mainly by habitat and the altitudinal gradient. Therefore, this is evidence of the importance of habitat structure to maintain the functionality of the ecosystem.
publisher Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia
publishDate 2017
url http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252017000400204
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