Parrish, D.L. and F.J. Margraf, 1991. Prey Selectivity by Age 0 White Perch (Morone americana) and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) in Laboratory Experiments, University of Vermont.

Reprinted with Permission from Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (1991) 48(4): 607-610

Prey Selectivity by Age 0 White Perch (Morone americana) and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) in Laboratory Experiments

Abstract
We conducted prey selectivity experiments by age 0 white perch (Morone americana) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in the laboratory. Lake Erie zooplankters were introduced into tanks where both fishes were in single and combined species assemblages. We identified and counted the introduced plankton samples and the contents of fish stomachs after the feeding period. Our results showed no differences in prey consumed within a fish species, whether in single or combined assemblages (ANOVA, p > 0.05). There were a few differences between white perch and yellow perch consumption of each prey taxa (ANOVA); however, the arrays of organisms eaten were not different (MANOVA, p > 0.01). We note that the majority of prey consumed were smaller taxa, which is counter to optimal foraging predictions in relation to prey size, but is consistent with other research on young planktivore prey selectivities.

Entire Paper
Contact: Donna Parrish, University of Vermont, Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Natural Resources, Burlington, VT 05405 
Key Words: White_perch, Predators, Population_dynamics 
Product Type: Research, Basic_biology 
User Type: General