The banded darter (Etheostoma zonale), an invasive species, should display some advantage in feeding flexibility and success that can described with jaw morphology and kinematics studies and compared to the shield darter (Percina peltata) and the tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi).

Abstract Field:

• Seine net •Two people fixing the net and one person kicking up rocks to stir up fish into the stream flow

There are measurable differences between the feeding morphology and kinematics of E. zonale, P. peltata, and E. olmstedi. Their motions can be compared with such values as maximum gape angle and mouth floor depression and not all measures express consistent behavior, even within data from a single individual. This indicates possible expression of fixed movements in every bite and adjusted movements. This study has verified the viability of a research method and calls for an expansion of this data for further analysis and for broader studies to examine the relationships between these species and their ecosystems’ biotic and abiotic factors.

Dr. Rose Carlson, Brandon Klein, Dr. John Wehr, Alissa Perrone, Petra del Valle, Michael Lambros, Fordham University - Calder Center, NSF

Darter Fish Feeding Ecology: Morphology and Kinematics Dede Ainbinder1,2 and Rose Carlson1

1: Louis Calder Center - Biological Field Station, Fordham University, Armonk, NY 10504, 2: Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002

Hypothesis

Field Sites

Stony Brook Mammaronek Oliver

Methods Laboratory:

•Blood worms on weighted line •Fastec 2: High-Speed Video Camera, Nikon DSLR Lens •Matlab with Hedrick Digitizing Tools

Data Analysis

Summary

Acknowledgments

Results

Basket Creek, NY Catatonk Creek, NY

Tukey's Honestly-Significant-Difference Test

Max Gape Angle (degrees) Species Species p-Value Banded Shield 0.34 Banded Tessellated 0.001 Shield Tessellated 0.02

Tukey's Honestly-Significant-Difference Test

Combined Jaw Velocity (mm/s)

Species Species p-Value Banded Shield 0.135 Banded Tessellated 0.008 Shield Tessellated 0.364

Tukey's Honestly-Significant-Difference Test

Max Mouth Floor Depression (mm) Species Species p-Value Banded Shield 0.077 Banded Tessellated 0.207 Shield Tessellated 0.004

Feature Contrast Between E. Zonale (Row 1), P. peltata (Row 2), and E. olmstedi (Row 3)

Left (Mouth Closed), Right (Mouth Open)

Features measured/labeled: 1) Eye 2) Most Anterior Maxillary Point 3) Most Anterior Upper Lip Point 4) Most

Anterior Lower Lip Point 5) Most Anterior Mandibular Point 6) Inner-most Edge of Mouth 7) Point of Max Mouth

Floor Depression

Morphology and kinematics research has had great precedent with previous studies of many fish including sunfish, labrids and more (Wainwright 1986-present) . However, the study of feeding kinematics in darter fish, a clade of small freshwater fish found in streams, has never been deeply explored. Around seven specimens of four species: Etheostoma zonale, Percina Peltata, Etheostoma olmstedi, and Etheostoma blennioides were caught with a seine net at Basket Creek and Catatonk Creek, NY. All were trained to eat blood worms tied to a line in a fish tank and were video recorded. Their movements were measured and ANOVA analyses/post-hoc tests showed that there were significant differences between species feeding kinematics. The most significant features measured were max gape, max combined jaw velocity and max mouth floor depression. Most distinctions werebetween species with and without a pre-maxillary frenum. More data is needed to verify this and further research connecting this knowledge with ecological impact has been indicated.

1 2 3 4 5 6

7

Factors with Statistically Significant Data (<.05) Row 1: Max Gape Angle, Row 2: Max Combined Bite Velocity, Row 3: Max Mouth

Floor Depression (Left) Box and Whisker Plot, (Center) p-Value by Species Pair ANOVA Post-Hoc,

(Right) Depiction