FEEDING OF PIAVA, Leporinus obtusidens, (Characiformes, Anostomidae), IN THE GUAÍBA LAKE, PORTO ALEGRE, RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRASIL
Abstract
The seasonal variations and composition of the diet of Leporinus obtusidens in Lake Guaíba were studied. Specimens were captured between August/1994 and August/1995 with gill nets and trotlines in several different placas of Guaíba Lake. A total of 187 stomachs was examined for fullness and the diet composition of 68 individuais with full or partially full stomachs was investigated. Frequency of occurrence and an index of diet importance were used to analyze the data. Plant matter and sediments were the most abundant items, so that L. obtusidens can be considered a herbivorous-geophagus species. Other less frequent and abundant items included bivalves, gastropods and insect larvae. The large number of empty stomachs (63.6 %) may be an indication that this species regurgitates the contents in its stomach when submitted to stress due to the sampling procedure or that the period of feeding activity is not coincident with the sampling period.
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