Effects of prey density and flow speed on plankton feeding by garden eels: a flume study.

ABSTRACT: Feeding by zooplanktivorous fish depends on their foraging movements and the flux of prey to which they are exposed. While prey flux is a linear function of zooplankton density and flow speed, those two factors are expected to contribute differently to fish movements. Our objective was to determine the effects of these factors for garden eels, stationary fish that feed while anchored to the sandy bottom by keeping the posterior parts of their bodies inside a burrow. Using a custom-made flume with a sandy bottom, we quantified the effects of prey density and flow speed on feeding rates by spotted garden eels (Heteroconger hassi). Feeding rates increased linearly with prey density. However, feeding rates did not show a linear relationship with flow speed and decreased at 0.25 m s-1. Using la

SUBMITTER: Ishikawa K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9124482 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature