Habitat distribution and size structure in freshwater fish communities: effects of vendace on interactions between perch and roach

Abstract

In a study of habitat selection and size structure in three fish species in 115 Swedish lakes, roach Rutilus rutilus used the pelagic habitat to a lesser extent and were lower in pelagic biomass in the presence of vendace Coregonus albula. Size distributions of roach were skewed toward larger sizes in takes with vendace, although a similar pattern of size-dependent habitat use was found regardless of lake group. In disagreement with predictions, vendace did not affect relative perch Perca fluviatilis biomass, size structure, or the proportion of large perch. However, a higher growth for large perch indicated higher per capita energy intake in lakes with vendace. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Keywords

indirect interactions; habitat selection; size structure; piscivore; zooplanktivore; growth

Published in

Journal of Fish Biology
2001, volume: 59, number: 6, pages: 1437-1454

SLU Authors

• Beier, Ulrika

  • Swedish Board of Fisheries
  • Umeå University

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science
Environmental Sciences
Ecology

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00210.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/77845