Diet and feeding strategy of Characidium rachovii (Characiformes, Crenuchidae) in coastal plain streams of southern Brazil

Abstract

Characidium rachovii (Regan, 1913) is a frequent species in coastal plain streams on state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. However, its trophic niche is still unknown. This paper aimed to: (i) describe the diet of C. rachovii in three coastal plain streams of RS; (ii) evaluate the influence of an ecotone (sea-stream) in the diet by comparing two sites, one near and other distant of the sea, and (iii) evaluate the effect of individuals number analyzed on the richness of the diet. The stomach contents analysis of 139 individuals revealed that the species was a specialist in Diptera (aquatic stage) and Amphipoda. Characidium rachovii was also opportunist, since besides such preference, consumed great richness of resources (24 items) and various with low frequency and high abundance. There were no differences in diet composition among streams and sites. The expected richness (rarefaction) showed that the number of individuals analyzed changes the estimate of diet richness in species that consume several items at low frequency.

Trophic niche; feed; rarefaction; coastal plain; coastal stream