Zooplankton prey selectivity of bluegill in small pond

Abstract

Feeding habit and zooplankton prey selectivity were examined for bluegill Lepomis macrochirus caught in October 2002 in two farm pond, Nagano. Fish were caught by angling. Zooplankton were collected at a single station in each pond. Selectivity index was calculated based on the composition of zooplankton prey in bluegill and zooplankton in each pond. Zooplankton prey dominated in stomach contents of bluegill in each pond. Cyclops vicinus that inhabited each pond were consumed selectively in one pond, but were not consumed in the other pond. Daphnia longispina were selectively consumed by bluegill in a pond where bluegill did not consume C. vicinus.