Influence of previous experience on the feeding habits of larval weakfish Cynoscion regalis
Year: 1993
Type: article
Abstract: Larval weakfish Cynosc~on regalls (Bloch & Schneider) were examined to d e t e r m n e the influence of dietary conditioning on prey selection Expenments were conducted with larvae in each of 4 age classes (8, 11, 14 and 17 d posthatching) Larvae were glven a monospecific diet of either large rotifers small rotifers, or brine shrimp nauphi for 5 d prior to an expenment Larvae were then given a choice between the familiar prey and one of the other prey types In separate expenmental trials, the conditioned prey was administered in 3 different proportions (10. 25 or 4 0 % ) of the total ration Larvae consumed both prey types in all tnals, but analysis of gut contents often showed a significant deviation from expected ratios of the 2 prey In expenments with the 2 size classes of rotifer, all ages of larvae chose the familiar prey In the large rotifer/bnne shnmp expenments, larvae 11 and 14 d posthatching could be conditioned to large rotifers however, larvae 17 d posthatching always chose b n n e shnmp, even when initially conditioned to rotifers In compansons of small rotifers and b n n e shnmp larvae never showed a preference for rotifers These results indicate that effects of dietary condition~ng on prey selection vary with larval age and relative prey size
Source: Marine Ecology Progress Series
DOI: 10.3354/meps101237
Authors: VP Connaughton, CE Epifanio
Institution: University of Delaware
Language: English
Subfield: Aquatic Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1975462114