Selective predation by bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) on three species of Diaptomus (Copepoda) from subtropical Florida

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Freshwater Ecol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.1983.9664591· OSTI ID:5944697

Elmore, J L; Vodopich, D S; Hoover, J J

The electivity of young bluegills (Lepomis marochirus) feeding on three species of Diaptomus was examined experimentally in aquaria. Young bluegills consumed more adult female D. floridanus than D. mississippiensis, with D. dorsalis being consumed in the smallest numbers. An experiment was conducted with a nonvisual siphon device in an attempt to separate the visibility and escape ability components of the feeding electivity. Although somewhat variable, escape ability was linearly related to body size of the copepods, with D. dorsalis being captured least often by the siphon, D. floridanus being caught an intermediate number of times, and D. mississippiensis being caught most often. Comparisons of the two experiments indicated that differences in numbers of D. dorsalis and D. floridanus eaten by bluegills were determined primarily by disparities in visibility attributable to pigmentation, whereas differences in numbers of D. dorsalis and D. mississippiensis eaten could be accounted for by their escape ability alone. Trends in numbers of D. mississippiensis and D. floridanus eaten were influenced by both their visibility, as determined by body size, and their escape ability. The finding of this study support the hypothesis that D. floridanus and D. mississippiensis could be excluded by fish predation from lakes in which D. dorsalis occurs. 21 references, 3 figures, 1 table.

• Research Organization: Univ. of South Florida, Tampa
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5944697
• Journal Information: J. Freshwater Ecol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Freshwater Ecol.; (United States) Vol. 2:2; ISSN JFRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
AVOIDANCE
BEHAVIOR
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COPEPODS
CRUSTACEANS
DATA
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEEDING
FISHES
INFORMATION
INVERTEBRATES
NUMERICAL DATA
PREDATOR-PREY INTERACTIONS
SIZE
SPECIES DIVERSITY
VERTEBRATES
VISIBILITY