Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Osmoregulation in Fishes02:32

Osmoregulation in Fishes

51.4K
When cells are placed in a hypotonic (low-salt) fluid, they can swell and burst. Meanwhile, cells in a hypertonic solution—with a higher salt concentration—can shrivel and die. How do fish cells avoid these gruesome fates in hypotonic freshwater or hypertonic seawater environments?
51.4K
Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

16.7K
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
16.7K
Overview of Functional Groups01:19

Overview of Functional Groups

13.8K
Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, certain functional groups will make a molecule hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each functional group is a unique...
13.8K
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

381
Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
381
Functional Groups02:45

Functional Groups

84.4K
Functional groups are a group of atoms with characteristic properties, which when linked to the carbon skeleton of a molecule, alter the properties of that molecule. For example, the presence of certain functional groups on a molecule will make them hydrophilic, whereas others will make them hydrophobic. These functional groups are an indispensable part of organic chemistry and important components of biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Each...
84.4K
Overview of Advanced Functional Groups02:22

Overview of Advanced Functional Groups

27.1K

Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and are sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of Advanced Functional Groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry.
27.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The rise and fall of the world's greatest marine biodiversity hotspot.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Habitat-specific temporal variation in the pace of fish diversification.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Missing planktivore functions drive global variation in reef fish productivity.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Over a century of global decline in the growth performance of marine fishes.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Functional novelties and behavioural flexibility underpin diversification of the surgeonfish feeding mechanism.

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2025
Same author

Species abundances surpass richness effects in the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship across marine fishes.

Nature communications·2025
Same journal

Double Parasitism by Two Cuckoo Gentes in a Daurian Redstart Nest.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Size and Ecology of a Giant <i>Pavona clavus</i> Coral Colony in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

How to Account for Past Selection When Maternal Effects Are Cascading.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Light and Pollination Limitation Alter Patterns of Fitness and Phenotypic Selection in <i>Sagittaria trifolia</i> L.: Insights From Sequential Inflorescences.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Teaching Macrosystems Ecology Concepts With a Collaborative, Adaptable Education Module.

Ecology and evolution·2026
Same journal

Instance of a Heteroplasmic Mitogenome in Alvinocaridid Shrimp <i>Mirocaris fortunata</i> (Martin & Christiansen 1995) Found at the Moytirra Deep-Sea High-Temperature Hydrothermal Vent Field.

Ecology and evolution·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

Published on: May 7, 2016

10.0K

Functional groups in piscivorous fishes.

Michalis Mihalitsis1,2,3, David R Bellwood1,2,3

  • 1Research Hub for Coral Reef Ecosystem Functions James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia.

Ecology and Evolution
|October 1, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Piscivorous fish were classified into "grabbers" and "engulfers" based on prey capture strategies. This functional classification reveals resource partitioning, helping explain fish community structures across habitats.

Keywords:
captureengulfergrabberpredationprey sizestrike

More Related Videos

A Time Differential Staining Technique Coupled with Full Bilateral Gill Denervation to Study Ionocytes in Fish
11:24

A Time Differential Staining Technique Coupled with Full Bilateral Gill Denervation to Study Ionocytes in Fish

Published on: March 19, 2015

8.5K
Silencing the Spark: CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in Weakly Electric Fish
08:00

Silencing the Spark: CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: October 27, 2019

10.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 18, 2025

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton
08:02

Dissection and Flat-mounting of the Threespine Stickleback Branchial Skeleton

Published on: May 7, 2016

10.0K
A Time Differential Staining Technique Coupled with Full Bilateral Gill Denervation to Study Ionocytes in Fish
11:24

A Time Differential Staining Technique Coupled with Full Bilateral Gill Denervation to Study Ionocytes in Fish

Published on: March 19, 2015

8.5K
Silencing the Spark: CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in Weakly Electric Fish
08:00

Silencing the Spark: CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing in Weakly Electric Fish

Published on: October 27, 2019

10.1K

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Ichthyology
  • Functional Morphology

Background:

  • Piscivory is crucial for aquatic food webs, but prey capture dynamics among piscivores are poorly understood.
  • Empirical data on how different fish species capture and process prey is lacking.
  • Understanding these feeding strategies is key to aquatic ecosystem dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To empirically assess prey capture dynamics and feeding behaviors of diverse piscivorous fish species.
  • To develop a functional classification of piscivores based on their feeding strategies.
  • To investigate resource partitioning between different functional groups of piscivores.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted aquarium-based performance experiments on 19 piscivorous fish species.
  • Quantified feeding morphology, striking, capturing, and processing behaviors.
  • Performed a meta-analysis of 2,209 published predator-prey relationships.

Main Results:

  • Identified two major functional groups: 'grabbers' (long-distance strikes, tail-first capture, jaw processing) and 'engulfers' (short-distance strikes, whole prey engulfment).
  • Demonstrated significant resource partitioning between grabbers and engulfers across marine and freshwater environments.
  • Established a functional classification for piscivorous fishes.

Conclusions:

  • The functional classification of piscivores into grabbers and engulfers transcends habitats.
  • These feeding strategies and resource partitioning patterns help explain fish community size structures.
  • Provides a framework for understanding trophic interactions mediated by piscivory.