Behavioural interactions between fish predators and their prey: effects of plant density

Savino, Jacqueline F.; Stein, Roy A.

doi:10.1016/0003-3472(89)90120-6

Cited by 321 publications

(270 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Because feeding behavior differs among predators, the ability to forage in different plant densities depends on predator type (Savino and Stein 1989a;Minello and Zimmerman 1983). Unlike largemouth bass and northern pike (Esox lucius) (Savino and Stein 1989a), bluegill do not ambush prey at high plant densities but actively search for prey.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unlike largemouth bass and northern pike (Esox lucius) (Savino and Stein 1989a), bluegill do not ambush prey at high plant densities but actively search for prey. Capture efficiencies among predators also differ; red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus) forage successfully on shrimp (Penaeus aztecuus) in vegetation but pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) do not (Minello and Zimmerman 1983).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Capture efficiencies among predators also differ; red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and speckled trout (Cynoscion nebulosus) forage successfully on shrimp (Penaeus aztecuus) in vegetation but pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) do not (Minello and Zimmerman 1983). Largemouth bass could not capture bluegills in plant densities of 99-452 stems/m 2 (Savino and Stein 1982, 1989a, 1989b); yet, bluegills in our study foraged successfully at 964 stems/m 2 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bluegill growth as modified by plant density: an exploration of underlying mechanisms

1992

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Summary.Bluegill (Lepomis macrochira) growth varies inconsistently with plant density. In laboratory and field experiments, we explored mechanisms underlying bluegill growth as a function of plant and invertebrate density. In the laboratory, bluegills captured more chironomids (Chironomus riparius) than damselflies (Enallagma spp. and Ischnura spp.), but energy intake per time spent searching did not differ between damselfly and chironomid treatments. From laboratory data, we described prey encounter rates as functions of plant and invertebrate density. In Clark Lake, Ohio, we created 0.05-ha mesocosms of inshore vegetation to generate macrophyte densities of 125, 270, and 385 stems/m 2 of Potamogeton and Ceratophyllum and added 46-mm bluegill (1/m 2 ). In these mesocosms, invertebrate density increased as a function of macrophyte density. Combining this function with encounter rate functions derived from laboratory data, we predicted that bluegill growth should peak at a high macrophyte density, greater than 1000 stems/m 2 , even though growth should change only slightly beyond 100 stems/m 2 . Consistent with our predictions, bluegills did not grow differentially, nor did their use of different prey taxa differ, across macrophyte densities in the field. Bluegills preferred chironomid pupae, which were relatively few in numbers but vulnerable to predation, whereas more cryptic, chironomid larvae, which were associated with vegetation but were relatively abundant, were eaten as encountered. Bluegills avoided physid snails, which were abundant. Contrary to previous work, vegetation did not influence growth or diet of bluegill beyond relatively low densities owing to the interaction between capture probabilities and macroinvertebrate densities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bluegill growth as modified by plant density: an exploration of underlying mechanisms

1992

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“…The presence of aquatic macrophytes increases the structural heterogeneity of habitat, affecting biological diversity and interspecific interactions (Agostinho et al, 2003), shelter availability for forage species (Savino & Stein, 1989) and fish diets (Pelicice & Agostinho, 2006). It is assumed that small-sized fish species are strongly correlated to variations in microhabitat structure (Dibble & Pelicice, 2010) and some species of small fish spend their whole life in macrophyte stands, which may affect fish morphology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecomorphology and use of food resources: inter- and intraspecific relationships of fish fauna associated with macrophyte stands

2016

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Based on the form-function interaction and its consequence to niche exploitation by fish species, the study aimed to identify ecomorphological patterns and to investigate the possibility of explaining the trophic niche breadth using the pattern of intraspecific ecomorphological diversity. We tested the following hypotheses: i) the morphology explains variations in diet among fish species; ii) the intraspecific ecomorphological diversity is related to the breadth of the trophic niche explored by the species, so that species that feed on a wider range of resources have greater variation in body shape compared to those specialized in resource consumption. Fish were collected in stands of the aquatic macrophytes Eichhornia azurea and Eichhornia crassipes in lentic environments of the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. Two major trends were observed in the morphological space: fish with body shapes adapted to explore the substrate and others with a design that facilitates the capture of food items in more structured habitats. The relationship of diet with body shape was confirmed by significant relationships between matrices of trophic and morphological distances, providing evidence that morphology is related to interspecific variations in the use of trophic resources. However, the ranges of morphological and intraspecific trophic variations were not significantly related, rejecting the second hypothesis about the relationship between intraspecific ecomorphological diversity and trophic niche breadth. The morphological characteristics often have multiple ecological roles, which could result in trade-off among these functions. Thus, fish with highly specialized morphology may show specialist feeding or even generalist habit, because in this case some resources may be difficult to exploit, even by a specialist. Species with low and high morphological diversity demonstrated narrow trophic niche and the availability of resources may have been essential for consumption. Therefore, species morphology is related to the use of food resources and ecomorphology can be considered an important tool for the prediction of the exploited niche space by species in assemblages. However it is not possible to predict if species with greater intraspecific morphological diversification indeed have wider niche, since the abundance or scarcity of the available food resources may interfere with trophic niche breadth.Baseado na interação entre forma e função e suas consequências para exploração do nicho pelas espécies, o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar padrões de variação ecomorfológica e investigar se a amplitude de nicho trófico pode ser explicada pelo padrão de diversificação ecomorfológica intraespecífica. Assim, testaram-se as hipóteses: i) a morfologia explica as variações na dieta entre as espécies de peixes ii) a diversificação morfológica intraespecífica está relacionada com a amplitude do nicho trófico explorado pelas espécies, de modo que, espécies que se alimentam de maior variedade de recursos apresentam maior variação ...

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“…Similar results have been observed in studies involving other fishes. For example, largemouth bass were unable to locate, and subsequently chased fewer, bluegills at higher vegetation densities (Savino and Stein 1989) and greater habitat complexity reduced the frequency of aggressive acts, such as chasing, for zebra fish Danio rerio (Basquill and Grant 1998). Although vegetation reduced the number of chases and nips among conspecifics for topminnows, it did not mitigate aggressive acts by mosquitofish as they chased topminnows into and within vegetation and then out into open areas where they were nipped by mosquitofish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agonistic behavioral interactions between introduced western mosquitofish and native topminnows

Sutton

Zeiber

Fisher

2013

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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The stocking of western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis for mosquito control negatively impacts native fishes with similar ecological requirements. In this study, a series of laboratory microcosm experiments was used to examine intra and interspecific agonistic behavioral interactions (e.g., chases and nips) between western mosquitofish and northern starhead topminnow Fundulus dispar, northern studfish F. catenatus, blackstripe topminnow F. notatus, and banded killifish F. diaphanous at three fish densities and in the presence/absence of vegetation. Western mosquitofish exhibited more agonistic behaviors than the four topminnow species and caused a change in topminnow behavior in mixed-species microcosms. Mosquitofish were aggressive toward conspecifics, with most of the chases and nips occurring at the highest densities and when vegetation was absent. Topminnows exhibited few agonistic behaviors toward conspecifics, but intraspecific chasing and nipping did occur when exposed to mosquitofish. Agonistic behaviors by topminnows toward mosquitofish occurred infrequently, and mosquitofish initiated almost all of the chases and nips. While all four topminnow species were attacked by mosquitofish, northern starhead topminnow and banded killifish were chased and nipped more frequently than the other topminnow species. These two topminnows exhibited the most behavioral changes and fin damage and one northern starhead topminnow died following mosquitofish attacks. Based on these results, it appears that the stocking of western mosquitofish into primary and connecting waterways could have negative impacts on native topminnow species that occur in these systems.

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Behavioural interactions between fish predators and their prey: effects of plant density

Cited by 321 publications

References 29 publications

Bluegill growth as modified by plant density: an exploration of underlying mechanisms

Bluegill growth as modified by plant density: an exploration of underlying mechanisms

Ecomorphology and use of food resources: inter- and intraspecific relationships of fish fauna associated with macrophyte stands

Agonistic behavioral interactions between introduced western mosquitofish and native topminnows

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