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Experimental evidence of cannibalism and prey specialization in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus

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Synopsis

Use of a radiographic technique enabled the study of prey selection and individual specialization in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, fed with small charr and dry pellets under laboratory conditions. Both naive and experienced fish (mean weight 475 g, mean length 34.9 cm), selected the smallest individuals when offered juvenile charr (6–16 cm) as prey. The selected prey were, on average, 22% of the predator length. Cannibalism appeared to involve individual specialization, since when groups of large charr were given the opportunity to feed on juveniles one day every two weeks, the same individuals were cannibalistic throughout the sampling period of two months. When large charr were presented with alternate cycles of different food types consisting of dry pellets and fish prey, the charr exhibited a strong and consistent feeding specialization with three distinct groups being recognised: cannibals, pellet eaters and non-feeding fish.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Per-Arne Amundsen, Børge Damsg»rd, Malcolm Jobling & Even H. Jørgensen

  2. Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, N-9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Arne Mikal Arnesen

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  1. Per-Arne Amundsen
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  2. Børge Damsg»rd
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  3. Arne Mikal Arnesen
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  4. Malcolm Jobling
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  5. Even H. Jørgensen
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Amundsen, PA., Damsg»rd, B., Arnesen, A.M. et al. Experimental evidence of cannibalism and prey specialization in Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus . Environ Biol Fish 43, 285–293 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005860

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005860

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