3.4 | Microbiota abundance and diversity
The carnivorous species had
significantly lower number of microbiota species than omnivorous species
(Figure 3A; p < .05). However, carnivorous, herbivorous
and filter-feeder had no significant number of microbiota species
(p > .05). Similarly, carnivorous and filter-feeder
fish species had no significant difference in number of microbiota
species (p > .05). The carnivorous species also had
significantly lower abundance as reflected by Chao1 (Figure 3B) and ACE
(Figure 3C) than omnivorous and herbivorous fish species
(p < .05). The
filter-feeder species also had significantly lower Chao1 than omnivorous
species (p < .05). However, omnivorous, herbivorous and
filter-feeder species had statistically no difference in Chao1 while
herbivorous and filter-feeder species had no significant difference in
ACE (p > .05). Similarly, carnivorous and
filter-feeder fish species had no significant difference in in Chao1 and
ACE (p > .05). The carnivorous fish had
significantly lower Shannon diversity index (Figure 3D), but higher
Simpson’s diversity index (Figure 3E). However, omnivorous, herbivorous
and filter-feeder species had no significant difference in Shannon
diversity index and Simpson’s diversity index (p >
.05). Similarly, carnivorous, herbivorous and filter-feeder fish species
had no significant difference in Shannon diversity index and Simpson’s
diversity index (p > .05).
The community diversity of the four
fish followed the order omnivorous > herbivorous
> filter-feeder > carnivorous.