Abstract
It is well known that the feeding mode of fish falls within a continuum of prey-capture techniques and behaviors; fish could use suction, ram, or manipulation styles to feed on a subset of a diverse prey-resource base. The main goal of ecomorphological research is to model the relationship between form and function, and in the case of fish feeding, one of the key questions is, “How does the functional design of the feeding mechanism constrain fish to a particular feeding mode?” This study initially addresses this question by conducting a multivariate analysis to determine which of the key functional components of the feeding mechanism predicts the feeding mode of teleost fishes along the Atlantic coast of Florida (USA). Sixteen feeding-relevant traits from each of 22 species were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis to generate a morphospace for the assemblage. The first two dimensions contributed 99% of the variation in functional morphology among members of this assemblage; the physiological cross-sectional area of the epaxialis muscle loaded heavily in these axes. A Discriminant Function Analysis revealed that the drivers that discriminate the assemblage among suction, ram, and manipulation feeding modes are Suction Index, mechanical advantage of the jaws, and mechanical advantage of neurocranial rotation. The model revealed that 91% of the species’ feeding modes were correctly predicted by properties of the feeding mechanism. Appropriately establishing the link between morphology and ecology remains a valuable tool in our continuing search for information that advances our understanding of the underlying mechanisms that drive the diversity and evolution of feeding systems.
Highlights
Establishing the link between morphology and ecology has long been a major goal of organismal biologists
The feeding mechanism in teleost fishes is composed of a Advances in Zoology and Botany 2(1): 6-14, 2014 complex suite of muscles and connective tissues associated with mostly kinetic bones, and organized into mechanical linkages that provide movement in the whole system [6]
This complex, functional organization underscores the need to address the question, “Which of the feeding-relevant functional-morphological characteristics underlie the designation of fishes into one of the three feeding modes described above?” We address this question with the seldom used, but believed to be effective and elegant, multivariate statistical tools in establishing the link between morphology and ecology using empirical data
Summary
Establishing the link between morphology and ecology (ecomorphology) has long been a major goal of organismal biologists. The feeding mechanism in teleost fishes is composed of a Advances in Zoology and Botany 2(1): 6-14, 2014 complex suite of muscles and connective tissues associated with mostly kinetic bones, and organized into mechanical linkages that provide movement in the whole system [6] This complex, functional organization underscores the need to address the question, “Which of the feeding-relevant functional-morphological characteristics underlie the designation of fishes into one of the three feeding modes described above?” We address this question with the seldom used, but believed to be effective and elegant, multivariate statistical tools in establishing the link between morphology and ecology using empirical data. Feeding modes were identified based on food-habit data generated in this study, and confirmed using the scheme available in the literature
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