Aspects structurels et fonctionnels de la biodiversité des peuplements de poissons

Cet article passe brièvement en revue les relations existant entre la biodiversité des peuplements de poissons et leur fonctionnement écologique. La biodiversité et la structure des peuplements peuvent être décrites, à l'échelle locale, en termes (1) de diversité phylogénétique, (2) de structure des populations, (3) de stratégies démographiques, (4) de diversité morphologique, (5) et de diversité trophique. Un défi majeur est de déterminer les relations qui existent entre la structure des populations et des peuplements et le fonctionnement des peuplements et des écosystèmes. La structure phylogénétique d'un peuplement résulte de l'interaction entre colonisation, extinction et évolution. En dépit du fait que ces facteurs opèrent sur une vaste gamme d'échelles spatiales et temporelles, de grands progrès ont été réalisés dans la modélisation des processus qui sont à la base de la structure génétique et phylogénétique des populations et des peuplements. Les modes de reproduction des poissons sont très variés, et la définition de guildes de reproduction et de stratégies démographiques permet de poser le cadre dans lequel les aspects structurels et fonctionnels peuvent être étudiés. Des études théoriques et empiriques mettent en évidence de fortes relations entre les stratégies démographiques, les variations environnementales et la dynamique des populations. Les poissons présentent une grande diversité morphologique qui, à l'échelle du peuplement, tend à augmenter avec la richesse spécifique. Des relations reliant la morphologie et l'écologie, en termes de fonction et de performance dans l'utilisation du milieu, ont été établies, mais dans certains cas, les tendances prédites sont masquées par des biais d'échantillonnage et la flexibilité du comportement en réponse à la variabilité environnementale. Le spectre des stratégies trophiques manifesté par les poissons est large, au niveau inter-spécifique, mais également souvent au niveau intra-spécifique, particulièrement durant l'ontogenèse. La structuration en guildes trophiques est plus complexe dans les peuplements comprenant beaucoup d'espèces. Le partage des ressources alimentaires est généralement perceptible quand les régimes sont examinés sur une période de temps suffisamment longue pour gommer les variations de disponibilité des ressources. La structure et le fonctionnement des réseaux trophiques est variable dans l'espace et dans le temps, et des maillons biotiques et abiotiques peuvent être fortement affectés par les poissons. La gestion des peuplements de poissons au sein d'une biosphère en modification nécessite des informations accrues sur les liens existant entre la diversité biologique et l'habitat, une meilleure connaissance des facteurs qui sont à l'origine des tendances observées, et le développement de modèles qui prédisent les relations entre structure et fonctionnement écologique

Do wood-grazing fishes partition their niche?: morphological and isotopic evidence for trophic segregation in Neotropical Loricariidae

Summary 1. Morphic detritus, including coarse particulate organic matter such as terrestrial tree leaves and wood, is consumed by few fishes in temperate stream systems but is ingested by abundant and diverse groups of specialized fishes in tropical rivers; physiological assimilation and partitioning of morphic detritus by fishes remain poorly understood. 2. This study examines seven species of Neotropical suckermouth-armored catfishes (Loricariidae) that live among and feed on coarse woody debris. Five species represent two unrelated evolutionary lineages showing convergent morphological specializations for gouging into and eating wood, small particles of which fill their guts. Two morphologically distinct species unrelated to wood-eaters and to each other forage along the surface of wood. 3. We examined six jaw functional morphological characteristics of each loricariid species as well as C and N stable isotope ratios of blood plasma, red blood cells and fin tissue of three wood-eating species and muscle tissues of all seven species. Consumer isotopic signatures were compared among species and with isotopic signatures of potential food resources, including biofilm, seston and both bulk wood and holocellulose extracted from bulk wood. 4. Wood-eating species had robust jaws specialized for gouging wood, d 13 C signatures consistent with assimilation of cellulosic wood carbon (not bulk wood carbon or lignin) and elevated d 15 N values (>5AE8&) relative to wood that were consistent with assimilation of N from intermediate microbial decomposers in the environment rather than direct assimilation of N from wood or from endosymbiotic N-fixers. Two non-wood-eating species occupied divergent regions of jaw functional morphospace, and isotopic signatures were consistent with assimilation of C from biofilm and seston, respectively, and N from enriched sources such as microbes, macroinvertebrates or seston. 5. Food resources associated with the surfaces of coarse woody debris in Neotropical rivers are partitioned among at least three guilds of loricariid consumers with divergent jaw morphologies specialized for wood gouging, surface grazing and macroinvertebrate probing. Direct consumption of morphic detritus by specialized Neotropical fishes constitutes a potentially important but poorly understood component of detritus processing and nutrient cycling in tropical rivers

Population characteristics of Shovelnose Sturgeon during low- and high-water conditions in the lower Platte River, Nebraska

Cycles of low- and high-water periods (i.e., years) in river systems are natural occurrences, but understanding how cyclical climatological patterns affect fishes, especially long-lived species, is unclear. We assessed Shovelnose Sturgeon population dynamics between a period of low- (2001-2004) and high- (2009-2012) water years in the lower Platte River, Nebraska. Low-flow periods in the lower Platte River can cause disconnection(s) between upstream and downstream reaches resulting in isolated pools and elevated water temperatures leading to stressful situations for aquatic life and possible mortality. Our data show no measurable differences between key population indices between flow condition periods which is consistent with current paradigms for long-lived fish species. Shovelnose Sturgeon relative weights were generally \u3e 80 during both low- and high-water periods and the size structure did not differ between the two periods. Shovelnose Sturgeon abundances, however, were greater during high-water conditions compared to low-water conditions (Kruskal-Wallis: χ2 = 6.15, d.f. = 1, P = 0.01). Shovelnose Sturgeon may have migrated to more suitable habitats during low-water periods to seek refuge allowing these individuals to return during more suitable conditions. Shovelnose Sturgeon and other riverine fish have evolved in a variable environment and have been able to endure relatively minor anthropogenic changes within the lower Platte River. Rivers like the lower Platte River that have retained much of their original physical features and flow regimes are likely key components for the resistance and resilience of riverine species. However, as alterations to landscapes continue and uncertainty exists surrounding future climate predictions, it is unknown how these riverine species will be able to adapt to future changes. The reduction in anthropogenic changes that disrupt flow regimes and increasing connectivity among river systems could provide more fish refuge during stressful conditions helping to protect these riverine species

Trophic strategy of Atlantirivulus riograndensis (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae), a non-annual rivulid threatened by extinction, in a perennial environment, Brazil)

Rivulidae includes non-annual fish of perennial habitats and annual fish of temporary wetlands. The objective of this research was to investigate the trophic strategy of Atlantirivulus riograndensis in a perennial environment. Sampling occurred in an environmental conservation unit in the Pampa biome, Brazil. Quantification of the diet followed the volumetric method. Consumption of autochthonous material as the main food source of the species followed the pattern of Rivulidae. Species is zooplanktonic when young. Food spectrum is broadened and insectivorousness increases with ontogeny, revealing a specialist trend in the feeding strategy of A. riograndensis. The most diverse feeding occurs in the spring and summer seasons in which the presence of larger fish was more frequent than in other seasons. The increased consumption of microcrustaceans in the fall was related to smaller individuals, captured in greater quantities in this post-reproductive period. The lowest diversity of dietary items occurs during the winter and may reflect the lower diversity of food resources available in this season or the transition from juvenile to adult diet, with consumption of autochthonous Diptera by medium sized fish.Rivulidae inclui peixes não anuais de habitats perenes e peixes anuais de alagados temporários. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar a estratégia trófica de Atlantirivulus riograndensis em um ambiente perene. A amostragem ocorreu em uma unidade de conservação ambiental no bioma Pampa, Brasil. A quantificação da dieta seguiu o método volumétrico. O consumo de material autóctone como principal recurso alimentar da espécie seguiu o padrão da família Rivulidae. A espécie é zooplanctívora quando juvenil. O espectro alimentar é ampliado e a tendência à insetivoria aumenta com a ontogenia, revelando traços especialistas na estratégia alimentar de A. riograndensis. A alimentação mais diversificada ocorreu na primavera e no verão, estações em que a presença dos peixes maiores foi frequente que em outras estações. O aumento no consumo de microcrustáceos no inverno foi relacionado aos indivíduos menores, capturados em maior quantidade neste período pós-reprodutivo. A menor diversidade de itens alimentares ocorreu durante o inverno e pode refletir uma menor diversidade de recursos alimentares disponíveis nesta época do ano ou a transição da dieta de juvenil para adulto, com consumo de Diptera autóctone por peixes de tamanho médio