A study of prey preference and selection by creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, in the Mink River, Manitoba
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Date
1975
Authors
Newsome, George Edwin (Buck)
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Abstract
In the Mink River adult creek chub are selective feeders consuming mostly brook stickleback in early summer and crayfish in late summer despite the abundance of other species of potential prey. Johnny darters were the most highly preferred species of prey followed by cyprinids (pearl dace and common shiners), brook stickleback, and crayfish. Johnny darters were inaccessable to chub in the presence of a rocky substrate. The presence of vegetation reduced the accessability of brook stickleback. The presence of the cyprinid fright pheromone although detectable by chub had no influence on the preference of chub for cyprinids and did not appear to affect the accessability of cyprinids. An alternate mechanism controlling the accessability of cyprinids is discussed.