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Feeding ecology of larval and juvenile American shad ( Alosa sapidissima ) in a small pond

Feeding ecology of larval and juvenile American shad ( Alosa sapidissima ) in a small pond Release ponds are used as part of a multifacet effort to restore American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in the upper Susquehanna River basin. Little information exists, however, on the feeding ecology of young shad in small ponds. Consequently, we examined feeding ecology and prey selection of 299 larval and 299 juvenile American shad in a small pond during spring and summer. Larval shad mainly consumed copepods (37.7%) and cladocerans (37.4%) whereas juvenile shad ate chironomids (43.1%) and ostracods (28.4%). Larval and juvenile shad exhibited diel variation in diet composition and feeding periodicity. Food consumption by shad was minimal at night; feeding activity was highest during the day, peaking at 2000 h for both larvae and juveniles. Electivity values of shad larvae for prey taxa were highest for cladocerans (+0.27) and lowest for ostracods (−0.07). Electivity values of juvenile shad were highest for chironomids (+ 0.21) and ostracods (+ 0.09), and lowest for copepods (− 0.08) and baetids (− 0.14). Our data indicate differences in diet composition, prey preference and, to a lesser extent, feeding patterns between larval and juvenile American shad in small pond environments. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Applied Ichthyology Wiley

Feeding ecology of larval and juvenile American shad ( Alosa sapidissima ) in a small pond

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Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0175-8659
eISSN
1439-0426
DOI
10.1111/j.1439-0426.1996.tb00052.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Release ponds are used as part of a multifacet effort to restore American shad (Alosa sapidissima) in the upper Susquehanna River basin. Little information exists, however, on the feeding ecology of young shad in small ponds. Consequently, we examined feeding ecology and prey selection of 299 larval and 299 juvenile American shad in a small pond during spring and summer. Larval shad mainly consumed copepods (37.7%) and cladocerans (37.4%) whereas juvenile shad ate chironomids (43.1%) and ostracods (28.4%). Larval and juvenile shad exhibited diel variation in diet composition and feeding periodicity. Food consumption by shad was minimal at night; feeding activity was highest during the day, peaking at 2000 h for both larvae and juveniles. Electivity values of shad larvae for prey taxa were highest for cladocerans (+0.27) and lowest for ostracods (−0.07). Electivity values of juvenile shad were highest for chironomids (+ 0.21) and ostracods (+ 0.09), and lowest for copepods (− 0.08) and baetids (− 0.14). Our data indicate differences in diet composition, prey preference and, to a lesser extent, feeding patterns between larval and juvenile American shad in small pond environments.

Journal

Journal of Applied Ichthyology – Wiley

Published: May 1, 1996

References

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    Crecco, Crecco; Blake, Blake
  • Food of juvenile American shad, Alosa sapidissima , juvenile blueback herring. Alosa aestivalis , and pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus , in the Connecticut River below Holyoke Dam, Massachusetts
    Domermuth, Domermuth; Reed, Reed
  • Multiple range and multiple F‐tests
    Duncan, Duncan
  • Predation on recently released American shad larvae in the Susquehanna River basin
    Johnson, Johnson; Dropkin, Dropkin
  • Daily feeding periodicities, food uptake rates, and dietary changes with hour of day in some lake fishes
    Keast, Keast; Welsh, Welsh
  • Food availability and consumption by young Connecticut River shad Alosa sapidissima
    Levesque, Levesque; Reed, Reed
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    Massmann, Massmann
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    Ross, Ross; Backman, Backman; Bennett, Bennett
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    Strauss, Strauss
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    Walburg, Walburg
  • Fish foraging periodicity correlates with daily changes of diet quality
    Zoufal, Zoufal; Taborsky, Taborsky