Ecology of Galaxias platei in a depauperate lake

Keywords

Patagonia, stable isotopes, diet, cannibalism, age and growth

Abstract

Galaxias platei is widespread and common in southern South America, but its ecology is poorly documented relative to other native species, especially those of commercial importance. Galaxias platei occurs across a large range of environmental conditions, including hydrologically isolated, high-elevation lakes. Consequently, there were several lakes in the Patagonian region where it was the only native fish species. Introduction of salmonids into almost all lakes in Patagonia where G. platei occurs has potentially resulted in changes in its ecology and behaviour. Thompson Lake is a small, high-elevation lake located in the Aysen River basin (Chile) where G. platei still occurs essentially in isolation. We collected G. platei from this lake to characterise the ecology of the species in the absence of other native and introduced fishes. We documented age and growth patterns from otolith analysis and characterised size- and age-specific habitat use, diet and trophic niche. In Thompson Lake, G. platei is long-lived and grows to comparatively large size (max. age = 18 years; max. TL = 348 mm). As it grows, it exhibits an ontogenetic niche shift in habitat use, diet and trophic niche. Large adults are piscivorous, and they occupy deep benthic habitats. Preservation of the last few remaining lakes where G. platei is found in isolation is an important priority for maintaining the full expression of ontogenetic niche variation in this species.

Original Publication Citation

Belk, M.C., Habit, E., Ortiz-Sandoval, J.J., Sobenes, C. and Combs, E.A. (2014), Ecology of Galaxias platei in a depauperate lake. Ecology of Freshwater Fish, 23: 615-621.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2013-12-06

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8158

Publisher

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

Language

English

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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