Fish (Osteichthyes, Characiformes) feeding in two Brazilian floodplain lakes from the Parana River Basin

Feeding of common species such as Cyphochacax modestus, C. nagelii, Prochilodus scrofa, Leporinus lacustris and Hoplias malabaricus was studied in two different environments of the Mogi-Guacu river floodplain: an oxbow lake seasonally flooded and an artificial lake with permanent connection with the main channel. The diets were studied through one river flood cycle, from September 1997 to October 1998, when no large flooding occured. For interespecific comparisons, previous data from Leporinus aff. friderici and Schizodon nasutus species has been included. Differences in relation to food activity were observed among the species, in the wet and dry seasons, and according to the environments. From stomach content analises, C. modestus, C. nagelii and P. scrofa were considered as iliophagous species, L. lacustris as omnivorous with herbivorous tendency, while L. aff. friderici was predominantly omnivorous; S. nasutus was considered as an herbivorous species and H. malabaricus piscivorous. High values of food overlap (>0,60) were verified in both wet and dry seasons.