In laboratory tanks with bream (Abramis brama), perch (Perca fluviatilis), and roach (Rutilus rutilus) concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen increased with time. Phosphorus was mainly released as soluble molybdate-reactive phosphorus (SRP); nitrogen almost exclusively as ammonium. The release increased with the species' tendency to forage on littoral sediments and with a smaller fish size. Bioassays with the test algae Selenastrum capricornutum showed that released phosphorus was readily available to algal growth. The total supply of phosphorus to the epilimnion of Lake Gjersjøen was calculated from the external supply from the tributaries and the estimated phosphorus release from total roach biomass. From May to October 1980 phosphorus release from the roach population contributed about the same order of magnitude as the total phosphorus loading from the watershed. During the period with the most serious phosphorus depletion to the phytoplankton (July, August, and September), the phosphorus supply from fish was about double that of the external phosphorus supply, confirming the important role of sediment-feeding fish populations in the eutrophication processes of lakes.

Changes in the fish community structure and habitat use were followed after the introduction of pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) to the roach-dominated Lake Gjersjøen. Quantitative echosounding showed that the density of juvenile roach (Rutilus rutilus) was dramatically reduced in pelagic areas, from 12 000-15 000 fish/ha to 250 fish/ha, while total fish density remained unchanged in littoral areas. At the same time, the habitat segregation between different size groups of roach was altered as larger roach utilized the pelagic zone after pikeperch introduction. The loss of the pelagic refuge for juvenile roach increased the availability of juvenile roach to littoral predators, notably perch. In littoral areas, the fish community changed from one dominated by roach (> 95%) to one dominated by perch (> 50%).

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Cohorts of perch larvae, hatched within 24 h, developed into a bimodal body size distribution as early as 6 days after commencement of external food uptake. At this development stage, intra‐cohort cannibalism occurred among larval perch individuals of larval stage V (body size: 10.5±0.26 mm, 95% c. l.) on smaller siblings. In experimental trials the consumption rate (C: no. of prey/predator·hour) increased exponentially with size of predatory perch (L: mm) and at 21°C was expressed by the relationship log C=3.406·log L‐3.848 (n=10, r2=0.98, P<0.001). For predatory perch in larval stage V, consumption rate was reduced when Daphnia pulex were added, while not in later stages. Perch larvae experimentally forced to live as true piscivores without additional food items developed from stage V to stage IX (15.8±1.34 mm) within the same time as those fed on Daphnia alone, but with increased mortality.

Feeding relationships between roach and ide from two sites in a mesotrophic lake SE Norway are presented and discussed. When animal food supply was scarce, both fish species increased their consumption of macrophytes; roach sevenfold, and ide threefold. Along a typical littoral vegetation gradient, ide fed among helophytes, while roach fed in the zone outside. This different habitat selection was reflected in the most important plants consumed (ide: Equisetum fluviatile, roach: Characeae), and confirmed by gill net catches. During the vegetative season, roach avoided areas with dense vegetation. In shallow areas beyond the littoral, the most important food plant for both fish species was Potamogeton perfoliatus, which constituted 80% of the total food consumed (dry weight basis) in the roach and 35% in the ide. The diet shift to plants seemed to be strongly influenced by the supply of animal food and the intensity of intra-and interspecific competition.