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Morphology in perch affects habitat specific feeding efficiency
Author(s) -
SVANBÄCK R.,
EKLÖV P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/j.0269-8463.2004.00858.x
Subject(s) - foraging , perch , biology , pelagic zone , predation , ecology , littoral zone , trophic level , population , habitat , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , sociology
Summary1 Trophic polymorphism is a common phenomenon in many species. Trade‐offs in foraging efficiency on different resources are thought to be a primary cause of such polymorphism. 2 To test for a trade‐off in foraging efficiency perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) were used from a population that differs in morphology between the littoral and pelagic habitat of a lake. Indoor aquarium experiments were performed with three different prey types in two different environments. It was predicted that the morphology of the individual would affect foraging efficiency in the different environments and on the different prey types through search and attack behaviour. 3 Overall the foraging efficiency of perch was found to be related to individual morphology. A connection was also found between individual morphology and search and attack behaviour. Search behaviour but not attack behaviour was affected by the structure in the aquaria. Furthermore our results show that there are relations between search behaviour and detection rates and between attack behaviour and attack success. 4 Our results give a mechanistic explanation for the differences in foraging efficiency between littoral and pelagic perch. These differences are probably driven by a functional trade‐off between foraging performance and general body form.