Journal
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCE
Volume 44, Issue 2, Pages 143-153Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.2989/16085914.2019.1612318
Keywords
dams; invasion; largemouth bass; ontogenetic shifts; predator; prey
Categories
Funding
- South Africa Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development (SANPAD)
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology for Invasion Biology (CIB)
- Rhodes University (Press Family Scholarship)
- National Research Foundation -South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (Inland Fisheries and Freshwater Ecology) [110507]
- NRF-SAIAB Institutional Support system
- South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB)
- Stutterheim Aquatics Club
- South African Bass Anglers Association
- Goya-SA
- Trima Lures
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Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides is a highly successful predator that preys on fish and invertebrates. Highly popular with anglers, it is one of the most introduced and invasive fish globally, with strong potential to alter ecosystem structure and functioning. A better understanding of the trophic dynamics of M. salmoides populations is critical for effective management of its ecological impacts in their invasive range. This study investigated the diets and dietary ontogenetic shifts of M. salmoides in two South African dams along with its trophic positioning relative to other fish community members, through stomach content and stable isotope analyses. Micropterus salmoides was a top predator in both dams. In the Mankazana Dam, it depended predominately on insect prey, demonstrating a generalised feeding strategy, with shifts to include increasing proportions of fish prey with increasing size. Contrastingly, in the Wriggleswade Dam, M. salmoides displayed no ontogenetic shifts and preferred Gilchristella aestuaria, likely indicating a shift to a predominantly fish-based diet at smaller sizes, in the presence of small pelagic fish prey. Overall, M. salmoides diet was opportunistic, likely associated with prey morphology and behaviour (associated with refuge availability) and therefore directly linked to prey abundance and availability, which consequently dictated feeding strategy.
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