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Behavior of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Walbaum) toward novel prey: influence of ontogeny and experience

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The behavior of individual, juvenile pink salmon toward novel prey (Artemia salina) under laboratory conditions is described. Two aspects of predatory behavior, namely latency time to initial prey-capture attempt and prey-capture success, are quantified in relation to chronological age and feeding experience. Initially, mean latency time declined slightly with increasing age up to Day 19 (post-emergence from gravel), but increased sharply to an asymptote with further aging. Mean percentage capture success gradually increased from 7.88% on Day 1 to 92.9% on Day 45. Prior feeding experience on the prey resulted in a decline (to a stable level) in mean latency time in experienced fish compared to control fish. Mean percentage capture success was not significantly altered by prior feeding experience on the prey.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R SK6, Canada

    Jean-Guy J. Godin

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  1. Jean-Guy J. Godin
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Godin, JG.J. Behavior of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Walbaum) toward novel prey: influence of ontogeny and experience. Environ Biol Fish 3, 261–266 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001451

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001451

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