As macrophytes have considerable structrual variation for prey communities by hindering predator foraging and affect the predator behavior, the swimming and feeding behavior of planktivore (
Pseudorasbora parva) with their prey (
Daphnia pulex) were studied in laboratory experiments with varying densities (350, 700, 1400, 2100 and 2800 stems·m
-2) of artificial submerged vegetation and with different prey densities (0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 prey·1
-1). The swimming speed of the fist was found to be negatively related to the prey density; and a significant change in swimming speed was noted as being directly related to the level of satiation The maximum feeding rates was found to depend upon and snow a marked variation with average prey distance. As the stem density gradually increases, the predator's foraging efficiency decreases considerably relative to feeding in open water. Moreover, a good relation in the feeding rate and swimming speed exists with the average stem distance to fish body length ratio (D). Abrupt reduction in feeding and swimming was recorded when D was near 0.7, which is approximately equal to one stride length of a fish.
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