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Developmental changes in foraging-predator avoidance trade-offs in larval lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus

1991; Inter-Research; Volume: 76; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/meps076053

1616-1599

P J Williams, JA Brown,

Fish Biology and Ecology Studies

We exposed 5 8, 12 and 15 wk old larval lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus L to a predator (three-splned stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus) in order to test whether or not lumpfish would reduce foraglng In order to reduce the probabll~ty of being attacked We found that 5 to 12 wk old larvae increased the time they spent clinglng to a surface In the presence of the predator, thereby trading-off time available for foraglng in order to reduce the probabll~ty of attack Overall, fewer fish fed in the presence of a predator, and of the f ~s h that d ~d feed, 12 wk old lumpfish also showed a significant decrease In feeding rate (bltes per minute swimming) In the presence of a predator The behav~ourial anti-predator defences d~splayed by the lumpf~sh would be effective in the environment in which the larval lumpfish are naturally found We dlscuss the appllcab~lity of the results of t h ~s study to other larval flsh plc freezing lesponse to the threat of a potential preda-Rod Taylor extracted much of the data from the video tapes, tor.In fact, the effectiveness of a freezing response by Chris Baidik provided invaluable statistical advice.Vytenis , .larval fish should be enhanced because of their small