Growth, carcass composition and plasma growth hormone levels in cyclically fed rainbow trout

Growth, body composition and plasma growth hormone levels were recorded weekly for 24 weeks in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss . Underyearling rainbow trout were individually identified using coded tags and placed on either a cyclic feeding regime of 3 weeks of deprivation followed by 3 weeks of feeding or a daily feeding regime. No significant difference was found in standard length and mass among the cyclically fed and daily fed fish at the end of the experiment. For cyclically fed fish, the absolute specific growth rate and condition factor reached a maximum during the last week of refeeding. Cyclically fed fish had a significantly higher moisture and protein content and lower lipid levels relative to fish fed daily. Absolute mass and fat loss in the deprivation phase of the feeding cycle decreased in intensity with subsequent feeding cycles, indicating that the fish were acclimatizing to the feeding regime. It was proposed that this response was an adaptation against possible adverse effects in the adults ( e.g. locomotor performance, bone ossification rates, fat deposition rate, growth rate and age at sexual maturity). Plasma growth hormone concentrations were not affected by cyclic feeding indicating that variations in plasma growth hormone concentration are not the cause of compensatory growth in rainbow trout.     

Laboratory studies on food intake, growth and food conversion of young herring, Clupea harengus (L.)

Food intake, growth and food conversion of young, O-group herring were studied at two temperatures and feeding regimes over a period of 19 weeks. The food intake of fish fed to satiation twice daily showed considerable variation. Food intake per fish at 14.5° C was about three times that at 6.5° C, and was generally much higher than in most other species of fish studied. The mean increase in wet weight over the 19-week period was 0.581 g/week at 14.5° C and 0.236 g/week at 6.5° C in fish fed to satiation and 0.094 g/week at 6.2° C and a ration of 1.3% of the body weight. Growth depensation was found to occur even in fish fed to satiation. The changes in specific growth rate, that is the percentage increase in weight/day, showed similar trends at different temperatures and food regimes. The mean conversion efficiency of fish on a ration of 1.3% at 6.2° C was higher than that of fish fed until satiation, at 14.5 and 6.5° C. The conversion efficiency of fish fed to satiation at 14.5° C showed a distinct decrease with increasing weight while at 6.5° C such a clear trend was not observed. In general, the conversion efficiency of young herring were found to be much lower than that of most other species studied. The weight exponent of the quantitative relationship between food intake and body weight at 14.5° C was 0.744. The total metabolic expenditure at 14.5° C, calculated using Winberg's (1956) 'utilization coefficient, gave a weight exponent of 0.773.     

The food and feeding habits of Physailia pellucida and Schilbe mystus with notes on the diets of S. uranoscopus and Siluranodon auritus, family Schilbeidae (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes) in Lake Kainji, Nigeria

SUMMARY. The food and feeding patterns of four schilbeids in Lake Kainji were studied between November 1974 and October 1975. Physailia pellucida , a small but abundant species, fed on small crustaceans and immature insects, while Schilbe mystus , a larger but less common schilbeid, fed principally on fish, with insects as a supplementary item in its diet. The rare species, Schilbe uranoscopus , was piscivorous, Siluranodon auritus , another small and rare species, is a herbivore feeding mainly on algae, with some crustaceans and immature insects taken as a source of animal protein. Preferential food selection by different length groups was found in S. mystus and P. pellucida . There were seasonal changes in the dietary items. Competition for food within the family was assumed not to occur in view of the different feeding habits of the species.     

Food consumption and growth of larvae and juveniles of three cyprinid species at different food levels

Synopsis The relationships between food availability, consumption and growth were analyzed from the onset of feeding to an age of 90 days in three cyprinid species. Fish were held at 20 ± 0.5° C and given two (three) constant rations of approximately 30, (40) or 100% dry body weight (dbw) ind^-1 day^-1. Food consisted of living zooplankton, the size of which correlated with fish size. At high food densities consumption rates decreased rapidly with fish size in all three species. At reduced rations, fish consumed most of the food offered until they were larger than 10 mg dbw. In all species and at each feeding level daily rations consumed increased allometrically with body size. Respiration rate, expressed as routine metabolic rate differed insignificantly between the three species. At high ration levels, growth rates of small bleak, Alburnus alburnus, were distinctly lower than those of roach, Rutilus rutilus, and blue bream, Abramis ballerus. At low food supply all three species grew at similar rates. Assimilation efficiency at low food conditions was approximately twice that of the well-fed groups. If the caloric equivalents of oxygen consumption as measured in well-fed fish are applied to fish fed at low rations their energy budgets do not balance. This indicates the limitations of fish larvae in the partitioning of energy for growth or activity at such conditions.     

Estimation of digestion rates for herring Clupea harengus L. feeding on fish larvae

Two methods for estimating digestion rate were evaluated and the digestion rate to disappearance was estimated to be 0·30 h⁻¹ for herring Clupea harengus feeding on capelin Mallotus villosus larvae. Due to high individual variability in feeding rates in schooling fish species, groups should be fed in separate tanks and stomach contents collected from each group at a predetermined time.     

The effect of diet on aerobic bacterial flora associated with intestine of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.)

In order to extend the knowledge on the possible effect of diet on the gastrointestinal microbial community of fish, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) were fed diets containing high (23.7%) and low (6.4%) levels of carbohydrate. The number of viable aerobic and facultative aerobic bacteria associated with the digestive tract were not influenced by dietary regimen. A wide range of bacterial species was isolated, and the predominant bacterial species of both rearing groups were identified as Staphylococcus. There were, however, some differences in bacterial composition between the rearing groups, as well as inter-individual variations. For example, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida were isolated from the small and large intestine of two fish fed low dietary carbohydrate, while Aer. caviae-like isolates were found in the small intestine of four fish fed high carbohydrate. Non-motile Aeromonas spp. were found in the rearing group fed high dietary carbohydrate, but at low frequencies. Dietary manipulation seemed to influence the species composition of carnobacteria, Gram-positive rods, oxidase and catalase-negative and fermentative metabolism. Carnobacterium piscicola-like bacteria were only found in the small intestine, while C. mobile-like and Carnobacterium spp. were isolated from the large intestine of fish fed high carbohydrate. On the contrary, C. divergens-like isolates were found associated with the small and large intestine of fish fed low dietary carbohydrate.     

Effect of winter feeding and starvation on the growth performance of young‐of‐year (YOY) great sturgeon,Huso huso

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding rate of the great sturgeon (Huso huso) young of the year (YOY) and to investigate the effects of different feeding rates in maintaining the weight of fish during short periods of winter starvation. Six feeding rates of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0% body weight (BW) day^?1 and feeding to satiation were considered for the first experiment. Each feeding rate was randomly assigned to three replicate tanks, with continuous feeding throughout a 5‐week winter period of water temperatures below 10°C. Fifteen fish were held in each of 18 tanks with an average initial body weight of 219.6 ± 6.9 g. After 5 weeks of feeding, the best performance was observed in fish fed 1% BW day^?1, but negative growth was observed in fish fed 0.2% BW day^?1. In the second experiment, fish were deprived of feed for 3 weeks at winter temperatures. Weights and condition factors of all fish decreased during starvation, while the differences in mean weight before and after the starvation period were not significant in fish fed a level of 0.2% BW day^?1 and those fish fed to satiation. No mortality was recorded in either experiment. Results of this study indicate that a feeding rate of 1% BW day^?1 would be sufficient for commercial fish farming of YOY of this species to maintain them over winter. Also, to maintain fish weights and prevent weight loss in overwintering ponds, a feeding rate of around 0.3% BW day^?1 seems appropriate for hatcheries.     

Feeding of tropical freshwater fishes: seasonality in resource availability and resource use

Summary Food resources in the environment and in the diets of small fish inhabiting two water bodies in a tropical savanna were studied during both wet and dry seasons. During the wet season (high water, abundant food) most fish species in both habitats fed predominantly on vegetation-dwelling invertebrates. Most fish species switched to alternative foods (algae and detritus) following the drastic decline in invertebrate food available towards the end of the dry season. In one habitat, this change in diet was accompanied by an increase in the volume of food intake. In the second habitat, only two larger species foraged intensively, while smaller species showed low food intake or almost ceased feeding. These differences may be explained by the high risk of predation for small fish in the second habitat. Dietary overlaps among fish species were high at the end of the dry season and moderate in the wet season. However, critical analysis of such factors as food abundance, the size and number of shared prey, and diet breadth showed that all significant overlaps were ecologically unimportant i.e. there was only weak competition for food.     

PLASTICITY OF JAW AND SKULL MORPHOLOGY IN THE NEOTROPICAL CICHLIDS GEOPHAGUS BRASILIENSIS AND G. STEINDACHNERI

I examined plasticity of jaw and skull morphology induced by feeding different diets in two species of the neotropical cichlid genus Geophagus. The two species possess different modes of development, which affect the size at which young begin feeding. I hypothesized that the difference in size at first feeding could lead to a difference in the amount of change inducible in the two species. The young of the substrate-spawning species, G. brasiliensis, which begin feeding at a smaller size, were predicted to be more plastic than those of the mouthbrooding species, G. steindachneri. The two diets used to induce differences were brine shrimp nauplii and chironomid larvae. Numerous measures of the jaw and skull differed significantly between groups fed the two diets but the amount of plasticity induced was small and would not present a problem for taxonomists. Contrary to my prediction, both the magnitude and pattern of plasticity induced in the two species was similar. Thus, mode of parental care and the size at which young begin feeding do not affect the degree of plasticity. Fish fed brine shrimp nauplii were longer in oral jaw region, but were shorter and shallower in the area behind the oral jaws. An additional group of G. brasiliensis was fed flake food to compare the results of this study to other studies. The differences in measures between fish fed brine shrimp diets and flake food diets were greater than those between fish fed brine shrimp and chironomid larvae. A possible role of plasticity for enhancing rather than retarding morphological evolution is discussed.     

山东近海三种底层鱼类的摄食生态与食物竞争

研究根据2016—2017年在山东近海进行的四个季节的渔业资源底拖网调查和胃含物分析数据, 应用分类树和生态位重叠指数法等, 研究了该海域高眼鲽(Cleisthenes herzensteini)、黄鮟鱇(Lophius litulon)和小眼绿鳍鱼(Chelidonichthys spinosus)3种主要底层鱼类的食物组成及其营养-空间二维生态位的重叠情况, 并分析环境因素对其摄食习性的影响, 旨在为该海域渔业资源的可持续利用和科学管理提供基础资料。研究发现, 这3种底层鱼类均主要以虾类和鱼类为食, 属于底栖动物食性。3种鱼类的摄食习性存在一定的差异, 可以通过构建分类树将其进行区分。通过CCA分析发现, 这3种鱼类的摄食习性受不同的环境因素影响, 其中高眼鲽的摄食习性主要与其体长有关, 随着体长的增加, 高眼鲽会摄食更多的鱼类和虾类; 小眼绿鳍鱼的摄食主要与季节有关, 不同季节小眼绿鳍鱼摄食鱼类和虾类的比例不同; 而黄鮟鱇的摄食主要受空间分布的影响, 高纬度的黄鮟鱇摄食更多的虾类, 而随着经度的增加, 黄鮟鱇会摄食更多的鱼类。黄鮟鱇的营养生态位和空间生态位宽度均最高, 而其余两种鱼的营养和空间生态位宽度相对较小。山东近海这3种鱼类的营养生态位重叠指数都较高, 但是空间生态位重叠指数较小, 在一定程度上可以缓和它们之间的种间竞争。     

Daily feeding rhythms in Atlantic salmon II: size-related variation in feeding patterns of post-smolts under constant environmental conditions

Previous studies of feeding rhythms in post-smolt Atlantic salmon Salmo salar have produced variable results. Therefore, the present study was performed to clarify the source of these differences and to examine size-related variation in daily feeding patterns. A small group of hatchery reared post-smolts was kept in an indoor seawater tank under conditions of constant photoperiod and light intensity, and negligible diurnal variation in water temperature. Feeding responses were monitored by video camera throughout the day. The resultant feeding pattern for the population mirrored an earlier study, with the highest levels of feeding activity in the early morning and late evening. Differences between this and other studies may be due to variation in climate, season or life-history stage. Daily feeding patterns were size-dependent. The largest fish fed at a relatively constant level through the day, medium-sized fish fed in a pattern similar to that described above for the population and small fish fed most at first and last light. These differences were due probably to the effect of competitive interactions upon fish of different sizes.     

Effects of feeding on survival, cannibalism, growth and feed conversion of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) in concrete tanks

Daily feeding rates of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% of body weight to juvenile (average weight 0.64–65.4 g) catfish, Clarius gariepinus, for 112 days had significant effects on survival, cannibalism, growth and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Survival was significantly higher in fish fed at 6–10% of body weight than those fed at 2–4%. Mortality was mainly caused by cannibalism, being significantly higher in underfed (2–4%) fish than in fish fed at the 6–10% level. A feeding level above 6% did not further reduce cannibalism. The best growth performance was recorded for the fish fed at 8–10% body weight, followed by the fish fed at 4–6%; poorest growth was found for those fed at the 2% level. FCR significantly increased from 2–4% (FCR, 1.14–1.13) to 6, 8 and 10% (FCR, 1.37, 2.18, 2.98, respectively). The results of this study suggest that the optimum feeding rate of juvenile catfish with an average initial weight of about 0.64 g and grown to a size of about 64 g is at 6% body weight per day.     

锦鲫幼鱼标准代谢率与生长性能的关联

为考察温水性鲤科鱼类在不同食物资源条件下标准代谢率(Standard metabolic rate, SMR)与其生长性能的关系, 研究在(25.00.5)℃条件下测定体重相近的30尾锦鲫(Carassius auratus)幼鱼的SMR, 将所有实验鱼置于多单元格水槽进行实验处理(摄食与饥饿)。实验时间为4周(0、7d、14d、21d和28d), 包括两周的生长实验(014d)和两周的饥饿实验(1528d)。摄食期间, 于每天上午9: 00和下午21: 00用商业饲料对每尾鱼饱足投喂并记录投喂量。单尾鱼的体重和体长每隔1周测定一次, 而SMR仅在第0、第14和第28天测定。结果显示:(1)锦鲫幼鱼在摄食期间的体重、体长以及SMR均明显上升, 饥饿期间体重和SMR显著降低(P0.05), 但体长变化不明显; SMR不论摄食期间还是饥饿期间呈现较好的稳定性(二者P0.05)。(2)锦鲫幼鱼在摄食期间开始时的SMR (测定Ⅰ)与摄食率(FR)、摄食转化率(FE)以及特定体重生长率(SGRBM)均无相关性, 摄食期间结束时的SMR (测定Ⅱ)仅与FR呈正相关(P0.05), 但与FE以及SGRBM不相关。(3)摄食期间(饥饿期间)实验鱼的第一周日均体重增(减)量与第二周日均体重增(减)量呈正相关, 其体重的增率与减率无显著差异(P0.05)。(4)实验鱼在摄食期间的特定体重增长率(SGRBM)与饥饿期间的不相关(P0.05), 但摄食期间的特定SMR增长率(SGRSMR)与饥饿期间的呈负相关(P0.05)。研究表明在实验室环境中锦鲫幼鱼的SMR具有稳定性, 该种鱼的日均体重变化量保持相近, 此形态变化特征与SMR不相关, 并且该种鱼在实验起始时的SMR的个体差异未能预测其在实验室食物资源变动下生长性能的适应特征。     

Diet, food resource partitioning and feeding periodicity of two riffle-dwelling fish species in a New Zealand river

The diets and feeding periodicities of two small, riffle-dwelling fish, the torrentfish, Cheimarrichthys fosteri , and the bluegilled bully, Gobiomorphus hubbsi , were investigated in an unstable, braided New Zealand river from May 1985 to April 1986. Aquatic insect larvae dominated diets of all fish and dietary overlap between species was high in 10 of 12 months. Nevertheless, the relative importance of prey items, as assessed by the index of relative importance (IRI), differed between species. Gobiomorphus hubbsi fed almost exclusively on larval Deleatidium (Ephemeroptera), whereas C. fosteri consumed a greater variety of prey items, with Deleatidium and trichopteran, elmid and chironomid larvae numerically dominant. A dietary switch from Deleatidium to chironomid larvae occurred in both species during December 1985, when total and relative abundances of mayfly and other benthic macroinvertebrate larvae were severely reduced by two consecutive floods. A diel sampling programme indicated that the feeding periodicity of the two species differed: C. fosteri was a nocturnal feeder, whereas G. hubbsi exhibited a strong crepuscular peak in feeding activity. Overall, the two fish partition their food resource weakly by consuming prey items in different proportions and sizes and more strongly by utilizing the food resource at different times.     

Feeding and growth of whitefish fed restricted and abundant rations: influences on growth heterogeneity and brain serotonergic activity

The whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus , is a schooling species, and it was hypothesized that, when faced with feed restriction, the behaviours associated with a schooling habit would lead to there being less heterogeneity in feeding and growth than has been observed in other members of the Salmonidae. This was tested by monitoring the feeding, growth and brain serotonergic activity of whitefish subjected to different levels of feed restriction (full rations and regimes estimated to give a 25 and 50% reduction in growth rate). The feed restrictions were successful in reducing rates of feeding and growth, but these reductions were not accompanied by any marked increases in interindividual variations in either feed intake or growth rates. Consequently, the imposition of restricted feeding regimes did not result in an increase in the size variation of fish within rearing tanks. Further, the brain serotonergic activity (assessed as 5-HIAA: 5-HT ratio) of individual fish was not found to correlate with either their feed intake or growth rates. This suggests that any competition resulting from restricted feeding did not lead to the establishment of marked dominance-subordination relationships. 5-HIAA: 5-HT ratios were, however, higher amongst fish fed the most restricted rations than in fish of the other groups. This may have been a reflection of a general nutritional stress rather than pointing to an increase in social conflict amongst the fish fed the lowest rations. When provided with abundant rations the fish that had been feed-restricted responded by becoming hyperphagic and showing catch-up growth, the degree of compensation being related to the severity of the previous food restriction. Taken together the results suggest that restricted feeding may be a suitable method for controlling rates of production of whitefish, without there being a high risk of a marked increase in size variation with the passage of time.     

Operant conditioning of feeding behaviour and patterns of feeding in thick lipped mullet, Crenimugil labrosus (Risso) and common carp, Cyprinus carpio (L.)

Groups of carp and thick lipped mullet quickly learned to operate an underwater trigger for food reward. Single mullet also learned this operant response but single carp did not. Groups of mullet exhibited a higher rate of responding than groups of carp. Mullet appeared to feed in bouts, whereas carp fed randomly during the learning trials. Both species adapted well to six days continuous demand feeding. Grouped and single mullet decreased their feeding at night but carp did not show a diurnal feeding pattern. Feeding responses were found not to be sequences of random events and response rates over the six days were higher in carp than in mullet. In both species, individual fish within a group operated the trigger significantly more often than other fish but all fish took food and gained weight.     

Feeding convergence in South American and African zooplanktivorous cichlids Geophagus brasiliensis and Tilapia rendalli

Synopsis Acará, Geophagus brasiliensis, and red-breasted bream, Tilapia rendalli, are important planktivorous cichlids in southern Brazilian lakes and reservoirs. In laboratory experiments, I quantified behavior and selectivity of different sizes of these two fish feeding on lake zooplankton. Feeding behavior depended on fish size. Fish < 30 mm were visual feeders. Fish 30–50 mm either visually fed or pump-filter fed depending on zooplankton size. Fish > 70 mm were pump-filter feeders. Replicate 1 h feeding trials revealed that, as the relative proportions of prey changed during an experiment, acará (30–42 mm, standard length) and tilapia (29–42 mm) shifted from visual feeding on large evasive copepods to filter feeding on small cladocerans and rotifers. Electivity and feeding rate increased with prey length, but were distinct for similar-sized cladocerans and copepods. Visual/filter-feeding fish had lowest electivities for small and poorly evasive rotifers and cyclopoid nauplii. They fed non-selectively on cyclopoid copepodites, had intermediate electivities for calanoid nauplii and small cladocerans, and had highest electivities for large cladocerans, cyclopoid adults, and calanoid copepodites and adults. Although belonging to different cichlid genera and native to South America and Africa, respectively, acará and red-breasted bream (= congo tilapia) exhibited similar selectivity for zooplankton. Apparently, few stereotyped feeding behaviors have evolved during the acquisition of microphagy in fish. Shift in feeding modes allows these two species to optimally exploit the variable and dynamic patchy distribution of planktonic resources.     

Opportunistic foraging by three species of cormorants in an Australian estuary

Aspects of the feeding biology of three species of cormorant ( Phalacrocorax melanoleucos , P. sulcirostris and P. varius ) were investigated in the large Peel-Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia in April and October 1986 and January 1987. The duration of dives by each species increased with depth and at each depth was greater in P. varius than in the two smaller species. Differences in the ranges of depths in which the similarly sized P. melanoleucos and P. sulcirostris fed would have reduced any potential interspecific competition for feeding space and food. The dive-rest ratio was similar (2.6–2.8) in all three species. Comparisons between the diet of each cormorant species and the potential prey where foraging occurred demonstrated that all three cormorant species were opportunistic feeders, ingesting predominantly small, slow-swimming, benthic-feeding fish and crustaceans. The small size of the prey was limited by the small dimensions of the gullet. There was no evidence that any of the three cormorant species were likely to exert a pronounced adverse effect on the abundance of the major commercial fish in the estuary or on the food of these teleosts.     

Individual variations and interrelationships in feeding rate,growth rate,and spontaneous activity in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) at different feeding frequencies

A 30‐day growth trial was conducted to investigate the individual variations in feeding rate, growth rate, spontaneous activity, and their possible interrelationships in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus) reared individually at feeding frequencies of one and two meals daily. Results show that the feeding rate in energy (FRe), specific growth rate in energy (SGRe), and food conversion efficiency (FCE) of fish fed twice a day were significantly higher than that of fish fed only once. However, no significant differences in distance or in time spent swimming were observed between the groups. SGRe was positively correlated with FRe in fish fed only once daily, and SGRe was positively correlated with food conversion efficiency in energy (FCEe) between the two groups. SGRe was only inversely correlated with the distance that fish swam when fed once daily. The results suggest that the individual growth differences of hybrid tilapia could be attributed mainly to variations in FRe, and that the energy costs of spontaneous activity play an important role in the differences at feeding frequency of one meal a day. However, at feeding frequencies of two meals a day, individual growth differences in fish may be caused by variations in FCEe, and energy costs of spontaneous activity have only marginal effects on the differences.     

Daily oxygen consumption rhythms of Senegalese sole solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858) juveniles

Senegalese sole is known to be a species with pronounced nocturnal feeding behaviour. However, as for most fish species, there is a lack of knowledge concerning the influence of such biological rhythm on metabolic rate. The aim of this study was to determine whether individual variation in routine and fed metabolic rate was affected by daily light-dark rhythms in juveniles of Senegalese sole. The individual oxygen consumption measurements in Senegalese sole juveniles were determined by flow-through respirometry, at fasted conditions and after the fish were fed a single meal, the meal time started at 0930 h and fish fed ad libitum for 30 min. The measurements were made during 22 h, of which 8 h was in the light and 14 h in the dark, and started immediately after transfer to the respiratory chambers at 1100 h. The results suggest an influence of light-dark cycles in routine metabolism. It was observed that oxygen consumption increased during the dark phase in fasted fish (FAST) but was higher during the light phase in fed fish (FEED). However, when feed is provided during the light phase, juveniles are capable of shifting oxygen consumption rhythms to respond to the energetic demands of digestion and growth. These results suggest that routine metabolism varies according to the species natural habits as Senegalese sole is known to be nocturnal. The findings of this study underline the importance of understanding the biological rhythms of the species under study before metabolic data are interpreted.