Diet-dependent body morphology and ontogenetic reaction norms in Eurasian perch

Abstract

In the pelagic enclosures, perch with high growth rates had a more fusiform body morphology than slow-growing perch, whereas the opposite was found in the lakes, where perch included more macroinvertebrates in their diets. Perch in lakes with a higher proportion of macroinvertebrates in the diet also had deeper body morphology. The opposite morphology - growth rate relationship found between perch in the pelagic versus those using the whole lake suggest a morphological trade-off between foraging on zooplankton and foraging on macroinvertebrates. Our results suggest that YOY perch show different ontogenetic reaction norms as a function of lake-specific resource levels, which may allow YOY recruitment to later stages. Our results further suggest that diet-related changes in morphology are a rapid process.

Published in

Oikos
2001, volume: 95, number: 2, pages: 311-323
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

SLU Authors

• Hjelm, Joakim

  • Umeå University

• Byström, Pär

  • Umeå University

UKÄ Subject classification

Evolutionary Biology
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.950213.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/52312