1. Ecomorphology Relationships between morphology and life history

2. Ecomorphology Studying morphology and how it relates to ecology

3. Ecomorphology Swimming ability & habitat Trophic ecomorphology Anti-predation anatomy

4. Swimming ability Body shape Dorsal/anal Fin placement and length Caudal fin Keeled body

5. Swimming ability

7. 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

8. Benthic Fishes

9. Benthic fishes

10. Mid-water fishes

12. Top-water fishes

14. Trophic ecomorphology Gill rakers Mouth Pharyngeal teeth Swimming ability

15. Gill Rakers

16. Mouth size

17. Mouth structure

19. Anti-predation morphology

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. E. blennioides E. flabellare E. nigrum