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Prey selection by the larvae of three species of littoral fishes on natural zooplankton assemblages

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Abstract

The prey selection of larvae of three common littoral fish species (pike, Esox lucius; roach,Rutilus rutilus; and three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus) was studied experimentally in the laboratory by using natural zooplankton assemblages. Zooplankton prey was offered at four different concentrations to study the functional responses of the planktivores. The diets of pike and sticklebacks were formed mainly of copepod juveniles and adults, which dominated the prey communities, although sticklebacks ate also cladocerans. The diet of roach larvae consisted of rotifers, cladocerans and copepods, without prey selection, in equal proportions indicating a more omnivorous diet. All fish larvae were able to feed selectively although in sticklebacks prey selection was less pronounced. Pike and roach larvae preferred large prey to smaller prey types. Patterns of prey selection are discussed in the context of size-selection theory and apparent vs. true selection.

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Acknowledgements

The Tvärminne Zoological Station, University of Helsinki provided good laboratory facilities for the experiments and boats for sampling. H. Strandberg (Trollböle fish hatchery) is acknowledged for providing the pike larvae, T. Meriläinen for help in the field, L. Urho for identification of roach larvae, J.-P. Pääkkönen for help with the equations and E. Lindén, J.-P. Pääkkönen, L. Urho and three anonymous referees for comments on the manuscript. The study was financed by the Academy of Finland (project no. 202437 and 203799) and by the Walter and Andrée de Nottbeck Foundation. The experiments comply with the current laws of Finland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Institute of Marine Research, P.O. Box 2, FI-00561, Helsinki, Finland

    Maiju Lehtiniemi,  Soili Saesmaa & Markku Viitasalo

  2. Tvärminne Zoological Station, J. A. Palménin tie 260, FIN-10900, Hanko, Finland

    Maiju Lehtiniemi & Tomi Hakala

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  1. Maiju Lehtiniemi
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  2. Tomi Hakala
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  3. Soili Saesmaa
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  4. Markku Viitasalo
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Correspondence to Maiju Lehtiniemi.

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Lehtiniemi, M., Hakala, T., Saesmaa, . et al. Prey selection by the larvae of three species of littoral fishes on natural zooplankton assemblages. Aquat Ecol 41, 85–94 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-006-9042-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-006-9042-6

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