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Body depth variation in crucian carp Carassius carassius : an experimental individual‐based study
Author(s) -
Vøllestad L. A.,
Varreng K.,
Poléo A. B. S.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ecology of freshwater fish
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1600-0633
pISSN - 0906-6691
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0633.2004.00048.x
Subject(s) - crucian carp , esox , pike , biology , predation , carassius , carassius auratus , cyprinidae , fishery , ecology , zoology , fish <actinopterygii>
– Induced morphological defences, where individuals develop morphological structures as a response to signals from sympatric predators, are common among invertebrates. Such defences have also been reported in a freshwater fish, the crucian carp Carassius carassius . In crucian carp, the presence of piscivorous fish presumably induces the development of a deep body as a defence mechanism. We tested how the growth rate (in body depth, length and mass) of individually tagged crucian carp responds to pike Esox lucius odours and control water. In general, crucian carp exposed to pike odour grew better (both in length and mass) than control fish. The treatment crucian carp also developed deeper bodies than control crucian carp. Further, there was a strong positive relationship between individual growth rate and the rate of change in body depth and this relationship did not differ between control and treatment fish.