Abstract
The mimetic juveniles of a number of carangid fish species resemble plant parts floating near the water surface, such as leaves, seeds and other plant debris. The present study is the first to verify the morphological similarities and ecomorphological relationships between three carangids (Oligoplites saurus, Oligoplites palometa and Trachinotus falcatus) and their associated plant models. Behavioral observations were conducted in the estuary of Curuçá River, in northeastern Pará (Brazil) between August 2015 and July 2016. Individual fishes and associated floating objects (models) were sampled for comparative analysis using both geometric and morphometric approaches. While the mimetic fish and their models retain their own distinct, intrinsic morphological features, a high degree of morphological similarity was found between each fish species and its model. The morphometric analyses revealed a general tendency of isometric development in all three fish species, probably related to their pelagic habitats, during all ontogenetic stages.
Highlights
IntroductionEspecially estuaries, are regarded as excellent nursery environments for many marine organisms, in particular fish [1,2,3]
Coastal ecosystems, especially estuaries, are regarded as excellent nursery environments for many marine organisms, in particular fish [1,2,3]
The results of the Principal Components Analysis (PCA) indicate a degree of correlation between the morphometric data of the mimetics and models (F = 166.73, degrees of freedom (DF) = 6, 431, P < 0.001), with a difference of less than 20% being observed between fish and plant groups, as explained by the first axis, PC1 (Fig 3)
Summary
Especially estuaries, are regarded as excellent nursery environments for many marine organisms, in particular fish [1,2,3]. Mangrove ecosystems constitute an especially important, and highly productive environment [4] used as spawning grounds and nurseries (feeding and shelter) by an enormous variety of marine organisms [5,6,7]. Morphometric and ecomorphological similarities in three sympatric plant-mimetic carangid fish marine species [16,17,18,19,20]. The analysis of the anti-predatory behavior and coloration in fish can provide useful insights for the understanding of the ecological and evolutionary relationships among different species, e.g., fish-plant mimics [10, 22,23,24,25], given that these behavior patterns have been associated with the population dynamics of a number of different fish species [26]
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