Habitat and food resource partitioning among four species of darters (Percidae: Etheostoma) in a southern Ontario stream

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Abstract
Resource partitioning among four species of darters (Percidae: Etheostoma) in an Ontario stream was investigated by determining diet and relative abundance in two habitats. The four species partitioned both food and habitat resources. E. caeruleum and E. flabellare dominated the riffles; the former took prey from rock surfaces, the latter took prey from between and beneath rocks. Etheostoma microperca and E. nigrum dominated the weed beds; the former feeding on prey on and around plants, the latter feeding on benthic prey. Diets were closely related to morphology, but habitat utilization was not. Determining the importance of habitat versus food partitioning is difficult, because microhabitat and foraging habitat may be nearly identical.