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Habitat use and feeding behaviour in two closely related fish species, the three-spined and nine-spined stickleback: an experimental analysis
Article first published online: 15 AUG 2003
DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00747.x
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How to Cite
Hart, P. J. B. (2003), Habitat use and feeding behaviour in two closely related fish species, the three-spined and nine-spined stickleback: an experimental analysis. Journal of Animal Ecology, 72: 777–783. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2003.00747.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 15 AUG 2003
- Article first published online: 15 AUG 2003
- Received 13 January 2003;accepted 11 April 2003
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- character displacement;
- competition;
- niche differentiation
Summary
- 1In this paper I analyse experimentally the way in which nine-spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) and three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) use weeded areas and open water and how this use is influenced by food availability.
- 2Experiments were designed to answer two questions: what preference do the two stickleback species have for weeded areas and the open water and then how is this preference changed by the presence or absence of food? Further, differences in behaviour between the two species were analysed.
- 3Results showed differential habitat use by the two species: nine-spined occupied the weeded area more often than three-spined and were less likely to utilize the bottom 10 cm of the water column.
- 4While foraging, nine-spined swam and pointed more often than did three-spined and modified some of these behaviours in response to the distribution of food.
- 5The nine-spined stickleback has a slimmer, more streamlined body than does the three-spined and the differences in habitat use and behaviour reflected this.
- 6The results are discussed in relation to interspecific competition and speciation through the ecological selection of different trophic morphologies.