Diets of fishes among and within ecoregions of the US and Mongolian rivers

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Authors
Minder, Mario M.
Advisor
Pyron, Mark
Issue Date
2019-07-20
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (Ph. D.)
Department
Department of Biology
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Abstract

Gut content analysis is a low cost and straightforward tool that allows for the investigation of multiple relationships within and among fishes. This tool allows for the identification of specific diet items that can be used to identify key dietary components, predation habits of species of interest, variability and overlaps of diets within and among fishes, as well as calculating dietary selectivity when paired with an environmental abundance survey. We used this method to compare the diets of fishes in the US and Mongolia to compare diets within and among ecoregions and continents. We looked at the Western Great Basin and Wyoming Mountain Steppe in the United States and the Mountain Steppe in Mongolia. US sites had higher proportions of invasive species and higher dietary overlaps among species than our Mongolian sites where invasive species were absent, and diets varied among fishes. These results can be used by managers to identify areas that require more attention in order to prevent negative impacts on native fishes and other species of concern.