SIMILARITY AND DISPARITY IN PREY-CAPTURE KINEMATICS BETWEEN THE INVASIVE PIKE KILLIFISH (BELONESOX BELIZANUS) AND THE NATIVE FLORIDA LARGEMOUTH BASS (MICROPTERUS FLORIDANUS)

• Published in: Florida scientist Vol. 74; no. 3; pp. 137 - 150
• Main Authors: Kerfoot, James R., Turingan, Ralph G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Orlando The Florida Academy of Sciences, Inc 01-07-2011; Florida Academy of Sciences, Inc
• Subjects: Belonesox belizanus; Fish; Fish feeding; Freshwater; Freshwater bass; Freshwater fishes; Invasive fish; Invasive species; Jaw; Kinematics; Micropterus; Micropterus salmoides; Predators; Rotation; Velocity
• ISSN: 0098-4590

The intensity of biological interactions between invasive and native fish species may be inferred from the degree of overlap in their food habits and feeding behavior. In this study, the kinematics and mode of prey-capture were compared between young-of-the-year (YOY) native Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus floridanus, and invasive pike killifish, Belonesox belizanus. Principal component analysis revealed a pattern of overlap in prey-capture kinematic space between species. Subsequent t-tests comparing the loading scores of each of the first two principal components, using species as a grouping factor revealed that in general, the kinematics of prey-capture were similar between M. floridanus and B. belizanus. However, both species differed in feeding mode; B. belizanus employs ram-feeding whereas M. floridanus uses ram-suction to capture prey. Similarity in prey-capture kinematics and disparity in feeding mode may facilitate the interaction between these coexisting native and invasive species.