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Zooplankton preference of two species of freshwater ornamental fish larvae
Author(s) -
Nandini S.,
Sarma S. S. S.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2000.00246.x
Subject(s) - biology , brachionus calyciflorus , rotifer , poecilia , zooplankton , hatching , predation , brachionus , ichthyoplankton , larva , zoology , fishery , ecology , fish larvae , fish <actinopterygii>
Summary The dietary preferences of larval mollies, Poecilia sphenops Steindachner, 1863, and angel fish, Pterophyllum scalare (Lichtenstein, 1823), were studied using the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus and the cladoceran Moina macrocopa as prey. The experiments were conducted at 5‐ to 7‐day intervals from day 5 after hatching until day 55 for mollies, and from day 15 after hatching until day 40 for angel fish. Rotifers and cladocerans were offered alone or in combinations. Moina individuals were sized as neonates or adults before being used as prey. Regardless of their age, the larval mollies preferred rotifers, while even during their early stages the angel fish consumed higher numbers of cladocerans. Prey preference values were calculated using Murdoch's electivity index.