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Feeding habits of an endemic fish, Oxygymnocypris stewartii, in the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, China

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Abstract

Feeding habits of Oxygymnocypris stewartii were investigated based on monthly sampling in the Yarlung Zangbo River from August 2008 to August 2009. The gut contents of 194 individuals were analysed and quantified with numerical and gravimetric methods. This species can be considered a generalized and opportunistic predator feeding both on teleosts and aquatic insects. A multivariate analysis revealed noticeable variation in O. stewartii diet composition with fish size and season. The smaller specimens fed primarily on Cobitidae and Hydropsychidae. As they grew, Cyprinidae and Chironomidae larvae became important prey. The preferred food items were teleosts in summer and autumn. For winter and spring, the predominant prey switched to chironomidae larvae. Diet composition did not significantly vary between the sexes. Finally, a significant and positive correlation between predator and prey length was found. These findings provide the fundamental information better understanding the role of this important endemic species in the Yarlung Zangbo River food web.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Xiaoming Jiang for his assistance and cooperation in carrying out the present study. This study is funded by Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest of the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China (201203086). Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. This article is contribution 1809 of the U. S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center. This study was conducted according to “Instructive notions with respect to caring for laboratory animals”, issued by the Ministry of Science and technology of the People’s Republic of China.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China

    Bin Huo, Cong Xin Xie, Xue Feng Yang & Hai Ping Huang

  2. Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Wuhan, Hubei, 430223, China

    Bao Shan Ma

  3. US Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA

    Bin Huo & Charles Paul Madenjian

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  1. Bin Huo
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Correspondence to Cong Xin Xie.

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Huo, B., Xie, C.X., Madenjian, C.P. et al. Feeding habits of an endemic fish, Oxygymnocypris stewartii, in the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet, China. Environ Biol Fish 97, 1279–1293 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-013-0213-8

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