Trophic relationships in an intertidal rockpool fish assemblage in the gulf of Cádiz (NE Atlantic)

Many species of littoral fish that live in rocky substrates are syntopic, sharing the same coastal habitat. They have similar feeding behaviours and use small hollows as places to hide and spawn. In the present study, we identified a total of 16 resident fish species in a rockpool assemblage in the Gulf of Cádiz and studied their patterns of co-occurrence. The dietary analysis performed showed the occurrence of 2 mainly herbivorous species (Lipophrys canevae and Parablennius sanguinolentus), 8 mainly carnivorous species with a percentage occurrence of algae in the diet below 10% (Gobius paganellus, Gobius cobitis, Gobius bucchichi, Clinitrachus argentatus, Tripterygion delaisi, Lepadogaster lepadogaster, Lepadogaster purpurea and Lepadogaster candolii), and 6 species that are carnivorous in the earlier phases of their lives and gradually increase the proportion of algae in their diet (Lipophrys pholis, Paralipophrys trigloides, Parablennius incognitus, Salaria pavo, Coryphoblennius galerita and Symphodus roissali). The dietary overlap among the different species does not explain the different patterns of abundance found among co-occurring species. In the present study, the common use of abundant resources coupled with specialized use of other types of resources was observed, and this allows the different species to minimise the effects of possible trophic competition

Borboletas (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea e papilionoidea) de val de serra, região central do rio grande do sul, Brasil

The butterfly fauna of the Atlantic Forest Biome is reasonably well-known up to the southern limit of its distribution. However, there are knowledge gaps nearby the central region of Rio Grande do Sul State, whose forest areas are considered priorities for biological conservation. This study investigated the butterfly assemblage of a riparian fragment in an ecotone area between Mixed Ombrophilous Forest and Seasonal Decidous Forest, in Itaara municipality. From September 2005 to September 2006, after 105 net-hours through active search sampling, 877 butterflies were registered representing 104 species. Three more species were registered posteriorly, increasing total richness to 107. The most abundant species were the Nymphalidae Hermeuptychia hermes (Fabricius, 1775), Yphthimoides celmis (Godart, [1824]), Agraulis vanillae maculosa (Stichel, [1908]), Tegosa claudina (Eschscholtz, 1821) and Vanessa braziliensis (Moore, 1883). One new record for the State and four new ones for the central region were registered besides the southern endemic Papilionidae Euryades corethrus (Boisduval, 1836) and the Lycaenidae Arcas ducalis (Westwood, 1852), considered indicator of Atlantic forest preserved areas. Due to the representativeness of the registered fauna, it is suggested the increase of conservation efforts in the area and stimulation of new ecological studies with the local biodiversity