Meeting Abstract

120.4  Tuesday, Jan. 7 11:15  The Drivers of Feeding Mode in Marine Teleost Fishes SONNEFELD, M.J.*; TURINGAN, R.G.; Florida Institute of Technology msonnefeld2008@my.fit.edu

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 (bite) 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. Sixteen feeding-relevant traits from each of 22 species were subjected to a Principle 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.