Monday, May 26, 2008 - 11:15 AM
43

The impact of benthivorous fish on the feeding behaviour of the omnivorous amphipod gammarus pulex

Claudia Hellmann1, Friederike Schulz1, Carola Winkelmann2, Björn Wissel3, Christian Ortmann4, Jochen H.E. Koop4, and Jürgen Benndorf1. (1) Institute of Hydrobiology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany, (2) Institute of Hydrobiology, Dresden University of Technology, 01062 Dresden, Germany, (3) Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 02A, Canada, (4) Department of Animal Ecology, Federal Institute of Hydrology, 56068 Koblenz, Germany

Amphipods are the most important omnivores in stream food webs. Additional to their main food leaf litter and detritus it is described that Gammarus is also predaceous.

Within a field experiment in a small stream we investigated the impact of benthivorous fish on the feeding behaviour of Gammarus pulex with consequences on its fitness. We compared a fish containing stretch with a fishless reference stretch. In the presence of benthivorous fish we expected two changes in the foraging behaviour of G. pulex because of its hiding in leafs and a low locomotion activity: 1) A reduction of the general food intake, and 2) a switch from animal prey rich in proteins and lipids to poor-quality food, detritus and leafs. Higher mobility in the fishless reference is expected to increase the chance to feed on animal prey with the consequence of higher fitness and lipid store. The gut fullness of G. pulex measured over 24 hours was similar in the fish and fishless stretches. However, triglyceride concentrations of females and the egg quality were higher in the fishless reference. Final results of stable isotope analysis (N, C) will show if differences in food composition lead to these consequences.



Web Page: feeding behaviour, fitness, stable isotope analysis