Issue |
Aquat. Living Resour.
Volume 31, 2018
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | 16 | |
Number of page(s) | 5 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/alr/2018004 | |
Published online | 25 June 2018 |
Research Article
The influence of prey density and fish size on prey consumption in common sole (Solea solea L.)
1
Wageningen Imares,
Korringaweg 5,
4401 NT
Yerseke, The Netherlands
2
Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University,
De Elst 1,
6708 WD
Wageningen, The Netherlands
3
Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research,
Am Handelshafen 12,
27570
Bremerhaven, Germany
* Corresponding author: sende@awi.de
Handling Editor: Catarina Vinagre
Received:
28
June
2017
Accepted:
4
March
2018
We examined the influence of prey density and fish size on prey consumption in common sole (Solea solea L.) foraging on buried ragworm Alitta virens (Sars) (formerly known as Nereis virens (Sars)). The tested prey densities of 0.8, 2.2, 4.3 and 6.5 individuals dm−2 were exposed to common soles of either 100 g or 300 g. At each prey density common sole foraged for 48 h. At both common sole classes studied, a positive correlation between prey consumption and prey density was observed (P < 0.001). Relationships however differed between 100 and 300 g common sole. In 300 g common sole the relationship between prey consumption and prey density was linear (P < 0.001), whereas in 100 g common sole the relationship between prey density and prey eaten was polynomial (P = 0.018). Small common sole reached satiety prey consumption rates at nearly every prey density while large common sole did not reach satiation rates even at highest prey densities. The data suggest that in nature, polychaetes such as A. virens may contribute to the diet of small common sole even when they are only moderately abundant. In contrast, polychaetes may not be an ideal prey for larger common sole as indicated by the absence of satiety regardless of prey density.
Key words: Alitta virens / prey density / Solea solea / foraging / functional response
© EDP Sciences 2018
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