Planktivory in a Littoral-Dwelling Lake Fish Association: Prey Selection and Seasonality

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1114-1126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Keast
Keyword(s):  
Prey Selection ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Alternative Prey ◽  
Chironomid Larvae ◽  
Chydorus Sphaericus ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Pimephales Notatus ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris ◽  
Lake Fish

A littoral zone assemblage of six planktivorous fishes (Pimephales notatus, Notropis heterodon, Fundulus diaphanus, Lepomis macrochirus, Ambloplites rupestris, Perca flavescens), and five zooplankter species, was analysed relative to three hypotheses concerning prey consumption: (1) Size-dependent predation will operate, as elsewhere. (2) Small-bodied planktivores, unable to handle larger prey, will take the most abundant zooplankter and not show species specialization. (3) The strongly cyclical nature of zooplankton populations will not permit fish species to specialize exclusively on zooplankton; there will be a negative correlation between zooplankton numbers and use of alternative prey, and at this time the planktivores will minimize competition by choosing different alternative prey. The first hypothesis was supported, the second and third partially so. The small specialist planktivores, P. notatus and N. heterodon, did not take the commonest small zooplankter, Bosmina longirostris: rather, they specialized largely on Chydorus sphaericus, feeding on it even when rare. Lepomis macrochirus, a generalise took largely B. longirostris, No species was exclusively planktivorous. The species only partly differed in alternative prey types eaten. Chironomid larvae were a regular item of diet of most species.

scholarly journals Match–Mismatch Regulation for Bluegill and Yellow Perch Larvae and Their Prey in Sandhill Lakes

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey C. Jolley ◽  
David W. Willis ◽  
Richard S. Holland
Keyword(s):  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Fish Recruitment ◽  
Newly Hatched Larvae

Abstract Food availability may regulate fish recruitment, both directly and indirectly. The availability of zooplankton, especially to newly hatched larvae, is thought to be crucial to their early growth and survival. We examined stomach contents of larval bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and yellow perch Perca flavescens in Pelican Lake and Cameron Lake, Nebraska, in 2004 and 2005. We also determined zooplankton availability and calculated prey selection using Chesson's α. In addition, we investigated potential match–mismatch regulation of recruitment from 2004 to 2008. Bluegill positively selected copepod nauplii and Bosmina spp., and yellow perch often selected copepods. Abundant zooplankton populations were available for consumption. Matches of both larval bluegill and yellow perch abundance to zooplankton abundance were detected in all years; exact matches were common. Mismatches in predator and prey production were not observed. Predation by age-0 yellow perch on age-0 bluegill was not observed, even though yellow perch hatched 2 mo prior to bluegill. Given that zooplankton were abundant and well-timed to larval fish relative abundance over the time span of this study, the match–mismatch hypothesis alone may not fully account for observed recruitment variability in these populations. Environmental conditions may also affect recruitment and warrant further investigation.

Branching complexity and morphological characteristics of coarse woody structure as lacustrine fish habitat

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (9) ◽  
pp. 2110-2123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G Newbrey ◽  
Michael A Bozek ◽  
Martin J Jennings ◽  
James E Cook
Keyword(s):  
Littoral Zone ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Smallmouth Bass ◽  
Micropterus Dolomieu ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris

The objective of this study was to quantify the physical characteristics of coarse woody structure (CWS) as fish habitat in a north temperate lake. Sixteen species of fish were observed in submerged CWS habitat. Branching complexity, distance above the bole, area below the bole, distance to other CWS, and water depth around CWS were significantly related to abundance of schooling cyprinids (Cyprinidae), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and walleye (Sander vitreus). Branching complexity was the most common characteristic of CWS related to richness, diversity, and total adult abundance of fish taxa, but was not correlated with the total lengths of fish found in submerged trees. Branching-complexity values ranged from 1 (simple) to 500 (moderately complex) in the littoral zone; for comparison, a living riparian conifer had a branching-complexity value of over 1000. Most CWS in the littoral zone was composed of simple trees without branching, but fish tended to inhabit CWS with branching-complexity values greater than 45. This study shows the importance of CWS with fine branching as littoral-zone fish habitat.

Retinal structure relative to feeding in the rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 2840-2846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Williamson ◽  
Allen Keast
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Visual Sensitivity ◽  
Visual Direction ◽  
Fish Feeding ◽  
Chironomid Larvae ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Light Gathering ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris

The morphology and organization of the retina of rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were investigated relative to their feeding habits. Rock bass are primarily crepuscular benthic feeders (taking Anisoptera nymphs and crayfish), and bluegill are diurnal generalized predators of chironomid larvae, Cladocera, and Trichoptera. In individuals of equivalent body size, the rock bass was found to have a high-density area of double cone concentration (up to 18 000 cones/mm2) in the temporodorsal region of the retina. This indicates that the main visual direction for prey detection is below the horizontal plane. In the bluegill the distribution of photoreceptors is more even and the average value over much of the retina is 6000–7000/mm2, with accordingly greater intercone spacing. This is probably appropriate for a fish feeding throughout the water column under good light conditions. The eye of the rock bass is 20% greater in rostrocaudal diameter than that of bluegill of equivalent size, implying greater light-gathering capacity. Moreover, individual cones in the rock bass are larger in surface area. These features, and a greater degree of neural summation (with resultant high visual sensitivity), have been regarded as adaptations for feeding under dim light. Differences in diet and feeding behavior in these two species thus have a morphological basis.

Daily Feeding Periodicities, Food Uptake Rates, and Dietary Changes with Hour of Day in Some Lake Fishes

1968 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1133-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Keast ◽  
Linda Welsh
Keyword(s):  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Daily Ration ◽  
Summer Period ◽  
Feeding Experiments ◽  
Uptake Rates ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris

The feeding periodicities of five common cohabiting fish species in Lake Opinicon, Ontario, were defined for the early summer period of accelerated feeding by determining the mean weights of stomach contents per gram of body weight at intervals of 2–3 hr throughout the 24-hr cycle. Two, and in sunfish three, feeding peaks per 24-hr period were indicated. Perca flavescens was diurnal; Lepomis macrochirus, L. gibbosus, and Fundulus diaphanus were largely diurnal (with a nocturnal component); and Ambloplites rupestris was equally nocturnal and diurnal. In the two sunfish there were clearcut differences in the organisms eaten by day and night. The technique developed here is a useful method for determining the mean minimum daily ration for a population of fish in the field. The results are comparable with those obtained by other workers in aquarium feeding experiments.

Feeding Biology of the Black Crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus

1968 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen Keast
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Micropterus Salmoides ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Progressive Change ◽  
Pomoxis Nigromaculatus ◽  
Feeding Biology ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris ◽  
Gill Raker ◽  
Diptera Larvae

In Lake Opinicon, Ontario, the diet of the black crappie, Pomoxis nigromaculatus, undergoes a progressive change from one in which planktonic Crustacea and small-bodied Diptera larvae predominate (in fish of body length from about 60 to 115 mm), to a diet of insect larvae and fish (in fish 160–240 mm). Most food items prove to be midwater forms and the Diptera larvae are almost entirely Chaoborus and Procladius, which are free-swimming in the water column at night.An unusual feature is the prolonged nature of the Cladocera-Copepoda eating phase, which continues into year III and to a body length of about 160 mm. Gill-raker counts show P. nigromaculatus to have a specialized screen with 25–29 rakers on the first arch. In this it differs from cohabiting centrarchids in Lake Opinicon, Ambloplites rupestris, Micropterus salmoides, and Lepomis macrochirus, in which the rakers on the first arch number only 8–12. In these species plankton feeding is restricted to the earlier stages.

Sexual differences in accumulation of mercury in four species of centrarchid fishes

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 944-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul F. Nicoletto ◽  
Albert C. Hendricks
Keyword(s):  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Lepomis Gibbosus ◽  
South Fork ◽  
The South ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Rock Bass ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Redbreast Sunfish ◽  
Ambloplites Rupestris

A 3-year study of fish from the South River, and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, and the Shenandoah River in Virginia revealed significant differences in the muscle mercury content of males and females. Female rock bass, Ambloplites rupestris, redbreast sunfish, Lepomis auritus, pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus, and bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus contained higher levels of mercury than the males of each species. An analysis of these species indicated that sex-related differences in mercury levels were not due to differences in body size but may have been related to the onset of reproduction. For example, mercury levels in 1-year-old male and female redbreast sunfish were not significantly different: females averaged 0.66 μg Hg/g and males averaged 0.63 μg Hg/g. However, at 2 years of age, when redbreast sunfish first reproduce, females contained significantly more mercury than males: females averaged 0.84 μg Hg/g and males averaged 0.60 μg Hg/g. Analysis of the other species yielded similar results.

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