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Substrate color preference and feeding by juvenile Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis: exploration of a behavioral adaptation

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Abstract

Experiments were conducted in artificial stream tanks with juvenile Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, captured in the Yangtze Estuary to test two null hypotheses (1) juveniles have no preference for white or black substrates, and (2) white or black substrate color has no effect on juvenile feeding efficiency on the barcheek goby,Rhinogobius giurinus, a dark-colored prey of wild juveniles. Juveniles strongly preferred white substrate. However, in feeding tests, feeding efficiency by juveniles was similar on white or black substrates. Thus, substrate color had no effect on feeding efficiency. Results suggest the innate preference for white substrate is not a visual adaptation for capturing prey on a contrasting background, but is an adaptation predisposing juveniles to seek light-colored sandy substrate where forage abundance is greatest.

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Acknowledgments

The research was financially supported by the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest of China (201203065), and National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (51579136, 51009082). We thank Administration Agency of Shanghai Yangtze Estuarine Natural Reserve for Chinese Sturgeon for providing access to facilities on Chongming Island. The experiments comply with current laws of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Natural History Research Center, Shanghai Natural History Museum, Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Shanghai, 200041, China

    Xiaolian Gu

  2. East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, 200090, China

    Xiaolian Gu, Ping Zhuang, Feng Zhao, Xiaorong Huang, Guangpeng Feng, Tao Zhang, Jianyi Liu & Longzhen Zhang

  3. Engineering Research Center of Eco-environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China

    Xiaotao Shi

  4. BK-Riverfish, LLC and Environmental Conservation Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA

    Boyd Kynard

Authors
  1. Xiaolian Gu
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  2. Ping Zhuang
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  3. Feng Zhao
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  4. Xiaotao Shi
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  5. Xiaorong Huang
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  6. Guangpeng Feng
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  7. Tao Zhang
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  8. Jianyi Liu
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  9. Longzhen Zhang
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  10. Boyd Kynard
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Correspondence to Ping Zhuang.

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Gu, X., Zhuang, P., Zhao, F. et al. Substrate color preference and feeding by juvenile Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis: exploration of a behavioral adaptation. Environ Biol Fish 100, 27–33 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-016-0549-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-016-0549-y

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