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Vulnerability of larval white perch, Morone americana, to fish predation

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The vulnerability of white perch, Morone americana, larvae to yearling bluegill, Lepomis macrochira, predators was examined in relation to larval size, nutritional condition and relative abundance of alternative prey. Short-term (15 min) predation trials were conducted in 381 tanks in the laboratory. Larval vulnerability was measured as the proportion of larvae killed and the proportion of successful attacks per predator in each 15 min trial. No significant differences in vulnerability were apparent among larvae regardless of feeding history at sizes < 6 mm SL. At larval lengths > 6 mm SL, size of larvae was the crucial determinant of their vulnerability. Percentage of larvae killed in 15 min was nearly 100% at sizes < 6 mm SL, decreased to 30% at a length of 12.0 mm SL and dropped to 18% at 14.0 mm SL. Larvae initially feeding at low food levels for 2–4 d exhibited decreased growth of 13–25% over the first 3 wks of life, and simulations based on laboratory results indicated that these growth deficits could result in 5- to 68-fold decreases in survivorship at 38 days after hatching (DAH). The relative abundance of alternative prey also had a pronounced effect on mortality of larvae. A 10-fold increase in alternative prey (Daphnia magna) abundance decreased bluegill predation rates on white perch larvae by 10–20%, while a 100-fold increase in Daphnia density decreased larval mortality by 75–90%.

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Author notes

  1. Daniel Margulies

    Present address: Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA

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  1. Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, University of Maryland, 20688, Solomons, MD, USA

    Daniel Margulies

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  1. Daniel Margulies
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Margulies, D. Vulnerability of larval white perch, Morone americana, to fish predation. Environ Biol Fish 27, 187–200 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001672

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001672

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