Ecomorphology Relationships between morphology and life history Ecomorphology Studying morphology and how it relates to ecology Ecomorphology Swimming ability & habitat Trophic ecomorphology Anti-predation anatomy Swimming ability Body shape Dorsal/anal Fin placement and length Caudal fin Keeled body Swimming ability Habitat preference Where in the water column a fish lives Benthic Mid-water Top-water What type of general habitat Lentic Low current, lakes & ponds Lotic Moving water, streams & rivers Benthic Fishes Benthic fishes Mid-water fishes Top-water fishes Trophic ecomorphology Gill rakers Mouth Pharyngeal teeth Swimming ability Gill Rakers Mouth size Mouth structure Anti-predation morphology Niche partitioning Niche Optimal Vs. Realized One or more resources Fish with a similar body structure may still utilize different resources e.g., Lepomis and Etheostoma Helps to reduce competition Increases diversity Niche partitioning All look alike, what would you expect to be the life history of this group? How can they co-exist? Use different habitats depth, current, substrate, longitudinal section of stream/river Feed on different food types Feed on different food sizes Perhaps reducing competition Niche Partitioning Sunfish Examples of niche partitioning E. flabellare = widest mouth, trophic generalist, slower currents Fantail darter E. podostemone = feed mostly on chironomid larvae P. roanoka = smaller mouth, trophic generalist, swift current E. blennioides E. flabellare E. nigrum