Some methods and studies in stream fish ecomorphology

Abstract

Ecomorphology is the branch that searches for the relations between morphology (i.e., phenotype) and ecological aspects (i.e., resource use) among individuals, populations, guilds and communities. Studies in this area attempt to identify how organisms are built and the evolutionary consequences of the evolved design. The main approaches are related to functional, performance and resource use characteristics. In any level, the use of historical tools is important in order to verify the role of evolutionary novelties to adaptation and to the diversification of biological groups. In this chapter, menthols to detect convergence and divergence processes between species and communities are presented. In addition, some case studies on the use of these techniques are presented as well.