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Differential habitat utilization by sexes of Sarotherodon mossambicus in Lake Valencia, Venezuela: significance for fitness
Author(s) -
Bowen S. H.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1984.tb04781.x
Subject(s) - biology , habitat , littoral zone , predation , turbidity , reproduction , ecology , fishery
Adult male and female Sarotherodon mossambicus in Lake Valencia, Venezuala select different littoral habitats. Males prefer areas with soft bottoms and high turbidity, while females favour areas with hard bottoms and low turbidity. Soft bottoms provide suitable sediment for male breeding site construction and high turbidity helps protect territorial males from visionally orientated predators, but the food available in this habitat is of poor quality and males feed relatively little. The hard bottom littoral provides food of superior quality and females feed in these areas. Condition factors are highest for subadult males, intermediate for adult females and lowest for adult males. Differential habitat utilization by sexes of S. mossambicus in Lake Valencia appears to contribute to individual fitness by providing males and females with specific requirements for reproduction.