Morphological and behavioural differences among recently-emerged brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, foraging in slow- vs. fast-running water

Morphology and resource use were compared among recently-emerged brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, sampled from field locations differing in current speed. Individuals from faster running water were slightly longer, and had more fusiform body shapes and larger caudal fin heights, than individuals...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental biology of fishes 1994-03, Vol.39 (3), p.289-300
Main Authors: McLaughlin, R.L. (McGill Univ., Montreal, Que. (Canada). Dept. of Biology), Grant, J.W.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agnatha. Pisces
AGUA
ALIMENTACION DE PECES
ALIMENTATION DES POISSONS
ANATOMIA ANIMAL
ANATOMIE ANIMALE
Animal and plant ecology
ANIMAL MORPHOLOGY
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
BEHAVIOUR
Biological and medical sciences
COMPORTAMIENTO
COMPORTEMENT
EAU
FISH FEEDING
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
HABITAT
HABITATS
SALVELINUS
Salvelinus fontinalis
VELOCIDAD
VELOCITY
Vertebrata
VITESSE
WATER
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Summary:Morphology and resource use were compared among recently-emerged brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis, sampled from field locations differing in current speed. Individuals from faster running water were slightly longer, and had more fusiform body shapes and larger caudal fin heights, than individuals from slower running water. In addition, individuals from faster running water also directed more foraging attempts toward the middle of the water column and fewer toward the benthos and water surface. They also ate more dipteran larvae, fewer aquatic crustaceans, and fewer insect pupae and adults. Individuals located in the slowest and fastest current speeds made fewer foraging attempts per min, on average, than individuals located in current speeds of intermediate magnitude. Dry weight of stomach contents did not vary significantly with current speed, however. The form of the relationship between body shape and current speed suggests that it is adaptive. Small-scale variation in the location of foraging sites may account for some of the individual variability in resource use often reported for stream salmonids. Variation in the locations of foraging sites may also entail a trade-off between an individual's swimming effort and the quality of prey it consumes .
ISSN:0378-1909
1573-5133
DOI:10.1007/BF00005130