Diel variations in the assemblage structure and foraging ecology of larval and 0+ year juvenile fishes in a man-made floodplain waterbody

Tewson, L. H.; Cowx, I. G.; Nunn, A. D.

Abstract

© 2016 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. This study investigated diel variations in zooplankton composition and abundance, and the species composition, density, size structure, feeding activity, diet composition and prey selection of larval and 0+ year juvenile fishes in the littoral of a man-made floodplain waterbody over five 24 h periods within a 57 day period. There was a significant difference in the species composition of diurnal and nocturnal catches, with most species consistently peaking in abundance either during daylight or at night, reflecting their main activity period. There were no consistent diel patterns in assemblage structure or the abundance of some species, however, most likely, respectively, due to the phenology of fish hatching and ontogenetic shifts in diel behaviour or habitat use. There were few clear diel patterns in the diet composition or prey selection of larval and 0+ year juvenile roach Rutilus rutilus and perch Perca fluviatilis, with most taxa consistently selected or avoided irrespective of the time of day or night, and no obvious shift between planktonic and benthic food sources, but dietary overlap suggested that interspecific interactions were probably strongest at night. It is essential that sampling programmes account for the diel ecology of the target species, as diurnal surveys alone could produce inaccurate assessments of resource use. The relative lack of consistent diel patterns in this study suggests that multiple 24 h surveys are required in late spring and early summer to provide accurate assessments of 0+ year fish assemblage structure and foraging ecology.

Citation

Tewson, L. H., Cowx, I. G., & Nunn, A. D. (2016). Diel variations in the assemblage structure and foraging ecology of larval and 0+ year juvenile fishes in a man-made floodplain waterbody. Journal of fish biology, 88(4), 1486-1500. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12924

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 26, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 3, 2016
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 12, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 3, 2016
• Journal: Journal of fish biology
• Print ISSN: 0022-1112
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 88
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 1486-1500
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12924
• Keywords: Behaviour; Diet composition; Feeding activity; Prey availability; Prey selection; Zooplankton
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/385384
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jfb.12924/full
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of article : Tewson, L. H., Cowx, I. G. and Nunn, A. D. (2016), Diel variations in the assemblage structure and foraging ecology of larval and 0+ year juvenile fishes in a man-made floodplain waterbody. J Fish Biol, 88: 1486–1500. doi:10.1111/jfb.12924
• Contract Date: Feb 12, 2016