Synopsis
We compared the diet and growth of moggel, Labeo umbratus, in an oligotrophic system to that in a eutrophic system to determine if the trophic status of the environment in which it occurs effects its growth rate. The diet of moggel in both reservoirs was similar and consisted of (in order of importance) detritus, algae and sand. The protein content of the diet was significantly higher in the eutrophic reservoir as a consequence of the elevated concentration of algae in the detrital aggregate. Diatoms were more easily ruptured by the pharyngeal plates of moggel than blue-green algae. Cell rupture may have been assisted by the large amount of sand in the diets. Sand may also have contributed to the breakdown of algal cells in the alimentary canal by compaction. Although there was no difference in the temperature regime of the two reservoirs, moggel grew significantly faster in the eutrophic system. The slower growth rate of moggel in the oligotrophic system was attributed to the poorer nutritional value of the diet as a result of the lower concentrations of algae in the detrital aggregate. Trophic status therefore had an effect on moggel growth by directly influencing the nutritional value of their diet.
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Potts, W.M., Khumalo, N. The effect of reservoir trophic status on the feeding and growth of Labeo umbratus. Environ Biol Fish 73, 141–152 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-3791-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-3791-7