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Ecomorphology

Ecomorphology. Relationships between morphology and life history. Ecomorphology. Studying morphology and how it relates to ecology. Ecomorphology. Swimming ability & habitat Trophic ecomorphology Anti-predation anatomy. Swimming ability. Body shape

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Ecomorphology

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  1. Ecomorphology Relationships between morphology and life history

  2. Ecomorphology • Studying morphology and how it relates to ecology

  3. Ecomorphology • Swimming ability & habitat • Trophic ecomorphology • Anti-predation anatomy

  4. Swimming ability • Body shape • Dorsal/anal Fin placement and length • Caudal fin • Keeled body

  5. Swimming ability

  6. Habitat preference • Where in the water column a fish lives • Benthic • Mid-water • Top-water • What type of general habitat • Lentic – Low current, lakes & ponds • Lotic – Moving water, streams & rivers

  7. Benthic Fishes

  8. Benthic fishes

  9. Mid-water fishes

  10. Mid-water fishes

  11. Top-water fishes

  12. Top-water fishes

  13. Trophic ecomorphology • Gill rakers • Mouth • Pharyngeal teeth • Swimming ability

  14. Gill Rakers

  15. Mouth size

  16. Mouth structure

  17. Anti-predation morphology

  18. Anti-predation morphology

  19. Niche partitioning • Niche – Optimal Vs. Realized • One or more resources • Fish with a similar body structure may still utilize different resources • e.g., Lepomis and Etheostoma • Helps to reduce competition • Increases diversity

  20. Niche partitioning • All look alike, what would you expect to be the life history of this group? • How can they co-exist? • Use different habitats – depth, current, substrate, longitudinal section of stream/river • Feed on different food types • Feed on different food sizes • Perhaps reducing competition

  21. Niche Partitioning Sunfish • Examples of niche partitioning • E. flabellare = widest mouth, trophic generalist, slower currents • Fantail darter • E. podostemone = feed mostly on chironomid larvae • P. roanoka = smaller mouth, trophic generalist, swift current

  22. E. blennioides E. flabellare E. nigrum

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