Hábitos alimenticios de Micropterus salmoides (Pisces: Centrarchidae), Lepomis gibbosus (Pisces: Centrarchidae) y Gambusia affinis (Pisces: Poeciliidae) en las orillas del embalse de Proserpina (Extremadura, España)

Abstract

We have studied the feeding habits of three exotic species: Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis gibbosus and Gam- busia affinis living in banks with aquatic vegetation in Proserpina reservoir (Extremadura-Spain). These exotic spe- cies have occupied the spatial and trophic niche of autochthonous species in the banks of the reservoir and have increased their nurnber. We postulate that the successful coexistence of these three species has two main factors: a) A low interspecific diet overlap based on an effective distribution of trophic niches and a high diversity of prey; b) The diet of Mi- cropterus salmoides does not include neither Lepomis gibboslrs nor Garnbusia affinis.