The Effect of Different Habitat Types and Ontogenetic Stages on the Diet Shift of a Critically Endangered Fish Species, Coreius guichenoti (Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant, 1874)

Zhi Yang, Xiaojuan Chen, Na Zhao, Huiyuan Tang, Jiangping Tao, Peng Zhang, Fang Shi and Chengyan Wan
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Zhi Yang: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Xiaojuan Chen: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Na Zhao: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Huiyuan Tang: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Jiangping Tao: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Peng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Fang Shi: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China
Chengyan Wan: Key Laboratory of Ministry of Water Resources for Ecological Impacts of Hydraulic-Projects and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystem, Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: This study examined the effect of habitat types and ontogenetic stages on the diet shift of Coreius guichenoti (Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant, 1874), a critically endangered fish species. Based on the stable isotope analysis method, the following was explored: the variations in δ 13 C and δ 15 N values, isotopic niche width and four basal food sources (Mollusks, Macrocrustaceans, Aquatic insect larvae and particulate organic matters (POMs)) among three essential habitat types (the spawning ground, natural riverine feeding and nursery area, and Three Gorges Reservoir area) and between two ontogenetic stages (immature and fully mature stages). A diet shift associated with habitat type changes was observed, but there were no obvious differences in diet composition between the two ontogenetic stages. Dietary plasticity and a preference for specific foods were the important determinants of feeding behavior through the life history of this species. POM was important for the survival of this species in the resource-limited spawning ground, but this species fed more heavily on higher-order consumers in resource-abundant areas. This study highlights the importance of maintaining free connectivity among different habitats (particularly spawning grounds) to ensure the long-term sustainability of potamodromous fish species as well as the full investigation of all types of critical habitats for understanding the trophic ecology of a single fish species.

Keywords: diet shift; stable isotope analysis; diet plasticity; food preference; isotopic niche (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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