scholarly journals Gape-dependent Larval Foraging and Zooplankton Size: Implications for Fish Recruitment across Systems

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary T. Bremigan ◽  
Roy A. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Prey Size ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Gizzard Shad ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Small Prey ◽  
Zooplankton Size

Small gape of zooplanktivorous larval fish limits their prey size; yet, within constraints set by gape, zooplankton size eaten influences larval growth and ultimately survival. To determine if optimal zooplankton size varied among fish species with different gapes, we conducted foraging trials with larval bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus, 10–26 mm TL) and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum, 18–31 mm TL). Larvae (n = 10) fed for 1 h on zooplankton assemblages that varied in size, after which all larvae and remaining zooplankton were preserved. Larval gape was measured; both larval gut contents and available zooplankton were quantified. Bluegill, the large-gaped species, fed on larger zooplankton than did gizzard shad with similar gapes. Further, larger bluegill fed on progressively larger zooplankton whereas all gizzard shad ate small prey (< 0.60 mm). As available zooplankton size increased, bluegill prey size increased whereas gizzard shad consistently selected small prey. Therefore, differences in zooplankton size among lakes could differentially affect foraging success of larval fishes. In particular, systems with small zooplankton may represent ideal foraging environments for gizzard shad whereas lakes with large zooplankton may favor larval bluegill. If differential larval foraging translates to differential growth and survival, zooplankton size could influence recruitment success and ultimately fish community composition.

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.

scholarly journals Recent advances in fish hatchery management

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (suppl spe) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald P. Phelps
Keyword(s):  
Egg Quality ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Sea Bream ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Formulated Diets ◽  
Induced Spawning ◽  
Fish Diets ◽  
Brood Fish

The advancement of aquaculture has often been bottlenecked because of the lack of seed, but once that bottleneck was overcome there was rapid growth. Recent examples of advances in hatchery technology leading to increased production are sea bream and Pangasius. Three areas contributing to the advancement of hatchery management are: brood stock management, induced spawning and larval feeding. Formulated diets have been developed for marine brood fish that are equal or better than the traditional raw fish diets. The importance of lipids and their composition in brood fish diets, particularly n-3 HUFAs has received much attention. The lipid composition of the brood diet is reflected in egg composition and egg quality. Protein quantity and quality in brood diets also impacts reproductive success and egg quality. The use of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) given as an injection or a slow release implant for induced spawning is becoming more widely used. The addition of dopamine antagonists with GnRHa may not be necessary to successfully induce spawn some species of fish. The use of GnRHa can advance the maturation of oocytes allowing such fish to be successfully induced spawned. Significant advances have been made in the development of formulated microdiets for larval fish. Such microdiets have been used successfully with young larvae reducing the need for live foods such as artemia. The quality of both live foods and formulated diets has been enriched with the use of fatty acids. Not only the quantity of n-3 HUFAs added to a diet impacts larval growth and survival but the ratios of specific n-3 HUFAs has an impact. Enrichment of live foods with amino acids can also improve larval fish growth and survival.

Food web interactions between larval bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and exotic zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha)

2004 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
David F Raikow
Keyword(s):  
Food Web ◽  
Dreissena Polymorpha ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Zebra Mussels ◽  
Structured Populations ◽  
Zooplankton Abundance ◽  
Differential Growth ◽  
Food Web Interactions

Food web interactions between native larval bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), exotic invasive zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha), and zooplankton were examined with a mesocosm experiment. Hatchling larval bluegill collected from nests were reared in the presence of size-structured populations of zebra mussels in 1500-L limnocorrals suspended in an artificial pond for 2 weeks. Chlorophyll a, other limnological variables, and zooplankton abundance and biomass (including copepod nauplii and rotifers) were monitored over time. During their first 2 weeks of life, larval fish reared in the presence of mussels grew 24% more slowly than fish reared alone. Differential growth rates can be explained by competition between mussels and bluegill for food in the form of microzooplankton. Also likely was an indirect competition via starvation of the zooplankton community as zebra mussels consumed phytoplankton. Either direct or indirect trophic competition between zebra mussels and obligate planktivores may result in ecological harm as zebra mussels spread throughout inland lakes of North America.

The relationship between prey selectivity and growth and survival in a larval fish

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1504-1512 ◽  
Author(s):  
C M Mayer ◽  
D H Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Prey Size ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Handling Time ◽  
Prey Preference ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Early Juvenile ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Better Than

We examined prey preference, growth, and survival of small larval (8-10 mm total length (TL)), large larval (11-17 mm TL), and early juvenile (>18 mm TL) walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) in laboratory aquaria and field mesocosms using multiple prey assemblages that included cladoceran, copepod, and rotifer prey of varied sizes. Both prey taxa and size affected prey preference during the larval period. All sizes of walleye avoided rotifer and nauplii prey. Small and large larvae selected for intermediate-sized (0.4-0.9 mm) cladoceran prey and selected against large prey (>0.9 mm) of both taxa. Although neither capture efficiency nor handling time differed between prey taxa, larvae oriented more frequently towards cladoceran prey suggesting that they were more visible than copepods to these small fish. Larval walleye that were fed exclusively cladoceran prey survived better than fish that were fed other prey. Early juveniles selected primarily on the basis of prey size, choosing large copepods and cladocerans. Prey taxa did not affect early juvenile growth or survival. Prey taxa and prey size interacted with predator size to influence selectivity and its effect on growth and survival. Consequently, these factors must be considered in combination when examining the importance of foraging decisions in young fish.

scholarly journals Larval Size and Recruitment Mechanisms in Fishes: Toward a Conceptual Framework

1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (9) ◽  
pp. 1657-1670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Miller ◽  
Larry B. Crowder ◽  
James A. Rice ◽  
Elizabeth A. Marschall
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Freshwater Species ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Fisheries Science ◽  
Risk Of Predation

Understanding the mechanisms controlling recruitment in fishes is a major problem in fisheries science. Although the literature on recruitment mechanisms is large and growing rapidly, it is primarily species specific. There is no conceptual framework to integrate the existing information on larval fish ecology and its relationship to survival and recruitment. In this paper, we propose an integrating framework based on body size. Although all larval fish are small relative to adult fish, total length at hatching differs among species by an order of magnitude. As many of the factors critical to larval survival and growth are size dependent, substantially different expectations arise about which mechanisms might be most important to recruitment success. We examined the evidence for the importance of size to feeding and starvation, to activity and searching ability, and to risk of predation. Regressions based on data from 72 species of marine and freshwater species suggest that body size is an important factor that unifies many of the published observations. A conceptual framework based on body size has the potential to provide a useful integration of the available data on larval growth and survival and a focus for future studies of recruitment dynamics.

scholarly journals Maternally transmitted isotopes and their effects on larval fish: a validation of dual isotopic marks within a meta-analysis context

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danswell Starrs ◽  
Jacqueline T. Davis ◽  
Jodie Schlaefer ◽  
Brendan C. Ebner ◽  
Stephen M. Eggins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Larval Fish ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Larval Morphology ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Body Depth ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Meta Regression Analysis

Transgenerational marking enables mass-marking of larval fishes via transmission of enriched stable isotopes from mother to offspring, but potential impacts on the resultant progeny are poorly understood. We injected enriched stable isotopes (137Ba and87Sr) into female purple-spotted gudgeon, Mogurnda adspersa, to produce multiple batch markers and examined larval morphology at hatch as well as survival and growth to 31 days posthatch in marked and unmarked offspring. Transgenerational marking had minimal effects on larval growth and survival, whereas body depth at hatch was significantly reduced in marked larvae. A meta-analysis of transgenerational marking effects on larval morphology at hatch and growth rates across multiple fish species found a nonsignificant positive effect of enriched stable barium isotopes on larval morphology at hatch, but a significant negative effect on growth. There were no significant effects of strontium on morphology or growth. Meta-regression analysis revealed that larval size at hatch increased with the dose of injected stable barium isotopes, but this result should be interpreted cautiously. Because of high levels of between-study heterogeneity, we caution against assuming there are no effects of transgenerational marking on fish offspring; any such effects should be validated and incorporated into transgenerational marking studies of fish dispersal.

Feeding ecology of Symbolophorus californiensis larvae (Teleostei: Myctophidae) in the southern transition region of the western North Pacific

2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiyuki Sassa
Keyword(s):  
Transition Region ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Western North Pacific ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Wide Range

The feeding habits of myctophid larvae of Symbolophorus californiensis were examined in the southern transition region of the western North Pacific where the main spawning and nursery grounds of S. californiensis are formed. This species is a key component of the pelagic ecosystems of this region, and their larvae attain one of the largest sizes among myctophids. To analyse gut contents larvae, including most life history stages after yolk-sac absorption (3.7 to 22.2 mm body length (BL)), were collected in the upper 100 m layer in 1997 and 1998. Feeding incidence was higher during the day than at night (53.1–92.3% versus 0–5.6%), and daytime feeding incidence increased gradually with larval growth. Larvae fed mainly on copepods of various developmental stages. Larvae of S. californiensis showed an ontogenetic change in their diet: larvae ≤7.9 mm BL (i.e. preflexion stage) fed mainly on copepod eggs and nauplii, while the larvae ≥8 mm BL consumed mainly calanoid copepodites such as Pseudocalanus and Paracalanus spp. In the largest size-class (16–22.2 mm BL), the furcilia stage of euphausiids was also an important prey item. There was an increase in the average prey size with growth in larvae ≤11.9 mm BL, while the number of prey eaten positively correlated with growth in larvae ≥12 mm BL. The trophic niche breadth also increased with larval growth, which would ensure a wide range of available food resources for the larger size-class larvae.

scholarly journals You Better Repeat It: Complex CO2 × Temperature Effects in Atlantic Silverside Offspring Revealed by Serial Experimentation

Diversity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Murray ◽  
Hannes Baumann
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Menidia Menidia ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Single Experiment ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Atlantic Silverside ◽  
Co2 Effects ◽  
Experimental Approaches ◽  
Temperature Interactions

Concurrent ocean warming and acidification demand experimental approaches that assess biological sensitivities to combined effects of these potential stressors. Here, we summarize five CO2 × temperature experiments on wild Atlantic silverside, Menidia menidia, offspring that were reared under factorial combinations of CO2 (nominal: 400, 2200, 4000, and 6000 µatm) and temperature (17, 20, 24, and 28 °C) to quantify the temperature-dependence of CO2 effects in early life growth and survival. Across experiments and temperature treatments, we found few significant CO2 effects on response traits. Survival effects were limited to a single experiment, where elevated CO2 exposure reduced embryo survival at 17 and 24 °C. Hatch length displayed CO2 × temperature interactions due largely to reduced hatch size at 24 °C in one experiment but increased length at 28 °C in another. We found no overall influence of CO2 on larval growth or survival to 9, 10, 15 and 13–22 days post-hatch, at 28, 24, 20, and 17 °C, respectively. Importantly, exposure to cooler (17 °C) and warmer (28 °C) than optimal rearing temperatures (24 °C) in this species did not appear to increase CO2 sensitivity. Repeated experimentation documented substantial inter- and intra-experiment variability, highlighting the need for experimental replication to more robustly constrain inherently variable responses. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the early life stages of this ecologically important forage fish appear largely tolerate to even extreme levels of CO2 across a broad thermal regime.

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