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Prey size selection in piscivorous pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) includes active prey choice

Turesson, Håkan LU ; Persson, Anders LU and Brönmark, Christer LU (2002) In Ecology of Freshwater Fish 11(4). p.223-233
Abstract
Knowledge of the mechanisms behind prey selection in piscivorous fish is important for our understanding of the dynamics of freshwater systems. Prey selection can involve active predator choice or be a passive process. We experimentally studied size-selectivity in pikeperch, feeding on roach and rudd. When given a choice of different prey sizes, pikeperch selected small prey. Passive selection mechanisms ( encounter rate, capture success and satiation) could not fully explain the pattern of diet choice. Instead, behavioural analysis revealed that the pikeperch actively selected small-sized prey. Optimal foraging theory, predicting that predators will choose prey sizes giving highest energy return per time spent foraging, is assumed to... (More)
Knowledge of the mechanisms behind prey selection in piscivorous fish is important for our understanding of the dynamics of freshwater systems. Prey selection can involve active predator choice or be a passive process. We experimentally studied size-selectivity in pikeperch, feeding on roach and rudd. When given a choice of different prey sizes, pikeperch selected small prey. Passive selection mechanisms ( encounter rate, capture success and satiation) could not fully explain the pattern of diet choice. Instead, behavioural analysis revealed that the pikeperch actively selected small-sized prey. Optimal foraging theory, predicting that predators will choose prey sizes giving highest energy return per time spent foraging, is assumed to explain active choice. We measured handling times for a range of prey sizes and found that the most profitable sizes were also the chosen ones, both in experiments and in the field. This suggests that pikeperch choose their prey to maximise energy intake per unit time. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Ecology of Freshwater Fish
volume
11
issue
4
pages
223 - 233
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000179194900002
  • scopus:0036893402
ISSN
0906-6691
DOI
10.1034/j.1600-0633.2002.00019.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6e807dad-2599-4998-b7b8-3b310d4cc205 (old id 146567)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:55:25
date last changed
2022-03-30 03:52:02
@article{6e807dad-2599-4998-b7b8-3b310d4cc205,
  abstract     = {{Knowledge of the mechanisms behind prey selection in piscivorous fish is important for our understanding of the dynamics of freshwater systems. Prey selection can involve active predator choice or be a passive process. We experimentally studied size-selectivity in pikeperch, feeding on roach and rudd. When given a choice of different prey sizes, pikeperch selected small prey. Passive selection mechanisms ( encounter rate, capture success and satiation) could not fully explain the pattern of diet choice. Instead, behavioural analysis revealed that the pikeperch actively selected small-sized prey. Optimal foraging theory, predicting that predators will choose prey sizes giving highest energy return per time spent foraging, is assumed to explain active choice. We measured handling times for a range of prey sizes and found that the most profitable sizes were also the chosen ones, both in experiments and in the field. This suggests that pikeperch choose their prey to maximise energy intake per unit time.}},
  author       = {{Turesson, Håkan and Persson, Anders and Brönmark, Christer}},
  issn         = {{0906-6691}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{223--233}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Ecology of Freshwater Fish}},
  title        = {{Prey size selection in piscivorous pikeperch (Stizostedion lucioperca) includes active prey choice}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0633.2002.00019.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1034/j.1600-0633.2002.00019.x}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}