Effects of turbidity and light intensity on foraging success of juvenile mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky)

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of turbidity and light intensity on foraging success of juvenile mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi. Predation on crucian carp Carassius auratus by juvenile mandarin fish was tested at five levels of turbidity combined with two light intensities, imitating daylight and night in two turbidity types. Foraging success was significantly lower in clay-induced turbidity than in algalinduced turbidity. In clay-induced turbidity trials, there was a slight but insignificant increase in foraging success of mandarin fish with increasing turbidity under lighted conditions. In algal-induced turbidity trials, there were no significant differences in foraging success of mandarin fish among turbidity levels at both light and dark levels, but at 80 NTU turbidity level, foraging success was lower than in all the other turbidity levels. There was no significant difference in foraging success at different turbidities under darkness. These results suggest that piscivory of mandarin fish is influenced by different turbidity types but is not significantly influenced by increased turbidity combined with decreased light intensity.

Effects of Turbidity on Prey Selection and Foraging Rate of Hatchery‐Reared Juvenile Tiger Muskellunge

“…; Li et al. ) or by phytoplankton (Carlson ). Turbidity can affect the ability of fish to detect objects and discern their shape, color, size, and distance.…”

“…; juvenile Mandarin Fish Siniperca chuatsi : Li et al. ), and others even exhibit better foraging success in moderate turbidity levels (Koaro Galaxias brevipinnis and Redfin Bully Gobiomorphus huttoni : Rowe and Dean ; juvenile Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua : Meager and Batty ). As turbidity levels fluctuate, the ability of predators to recognize and consume prey constantly changes, as does the ability of prey to recognize and avoid predators (Huenemann et al.…”

“…Water clarity, particularly turbidity, affects interactions between predator and prey in aquatic environments and also influences interactions between and within species, thereby shaping fish communities (Carter et al 2010;Lunt and Smee 2015;Figueiredo et al 2016). Turbidity is typically produced by small particles of silt, clay, fine sand, or detritus that are suspended by wind action, rain events, or fish disturbing the substrate (Carter et al 2010;Jonsson et al 2013;Li et al 2013) or by phytoplankton (Carlson 1977). Turbidity can affect the ability of fish to detect objects and discern their shape, color, size, and distance.…”

“…Increases in turbidity can also reduce the frequency of encounters between predator and prey (Gregory and Levings 1996;Shoup and Wahl 2009;Carter et al 2010), leading to lower overall predator foraging return (Shoup and Lane 2015). However, some species appear unaffected by turbidity (juvenile Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: Rowe et al 2003; age-0 Yellow Perch Perca flavescens: Wellington et al 2010; juvenile Mandarin Fish Siniperca chuatsi: Li et al 2013), and others even exhibit better foraging success in moderate turbidity levels (Koaro Galaxias brevipinnis and Redfin Bully Gobiomorphus huttoni: Rowe and Dean 1998;juvenile Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua: Meager and Batty 2007). As turbidity levels fluctuate, the ability of predators to recognize and consume prey constantly changes, as does the ability of prey to recognize and avoid predators (Huenemann et al 2012;Shoup and Lane 2015), and such changes can alter prey selection (Shoup and Wahl 2009;Carter et al 2010;Shoup and Lane 2015).…”

Effects of artificial submersed vegetation on consumption and growth of mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) foraging on live prey

“…Thus, vision and mechanoreception play decisive roles in its predation strategy. Light intensity (daytime vs. night) had no significant influence on foraging success of the fish in either clay-or algae-induced turbidity environments (Li et al 2013b). Additionally, mandarin fish larvae (21 days from hatching) and yearlings (total length: 14-16 cm) were able to feed in complete darkness, as well as in light (Liang et al 2008).…”