Comparative habitat use by grazing fishes in a Bornean stream

• Published in: Environmental biology of fishes Vol. 92; no. 3; pp. 381 - 390
• Main Author: Sheldon, Andrew L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal behavior; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Bed load; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Creeks & streams; Environment; Fish; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grazing; Habitat utilization; Habitats; Heterogeneity; Life Sciences; Microhabitats; Nature Conservation; Rainforests; Rocks; Snorkeling; Turbidity; Vertebrata; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Zoology; Asia; Brunei Darussalam; Borneo; Microhabitat; Brunei Darussalam; Niche partitioning; Disturbance; Gastromyzon; Habitat selection; Perturbation; Vertebrata; Pisces; Ecological niche; Ecological segregation; Habitat; Stream
• ISSN: 0378-1909; 1573-5133
• DOI: 10.1007/s10641-011-9849-4

Habitat use by four grazing fishes in a rainforest stream was determined by direct observation (snorkeling) and microhabitat measurements for individual fish. Significant species heterogeneity (P < 0.004) occurred along two principal component gradients of velocity, depth and substrate and most pairwise species contrasts were significant. Abundant Paracrossochilus acerus (Cyprinidae) occupied the slower, deeper end of the gradient and Gastromyzon punctulatus (Balitoridae) the fast, shallow end with common G. cranbrooki and rare G. aeroides intermediate. However, overlap was substantial and as many as three species grazed on a single rock with no apparent interaction. All species were primarily day-active. Incomplete experiments suggest the fishes rapidly abandon rocks with reduced algal cover. Frequent spates with high discharge, turbidity and bedload movement disturbed the river. Disturbance, rather than biotic interactions, may be the dominant factor in the ecology of these fishes.