scholarly journals Linking behavioural type with cannibalism in Eurasian perch

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0260938
Author(s):  
Matilda L. Andersson ◽  
Kaj Hulthén ◽  
Charlie Blake ◽  
Christer Brönmark ◽  
P. Anders Nilsson

The propensity to kill and consume conspecifics (cannibalism) varies greatly between and within species, but the underlying mechanisms behind this variation remain poorly understood. A rich literature has documented that consistent behavioural variation is ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. Such inter-individual behavioural differences, sometimes referred to as personality traits, may have far-reaching ecological consequences. However, the link between predator personality traits and the propensity to engage in cannibalistic interactions remains understudied. Here, we first quantified personality in Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), measured as activity (time spent moving) and sociability (time spent near conspecifics). We then gave perch of contrasting behavioural types the option to consume either conspecific or heterospecific (roach, Rutilus rutilus) prey. Individual perch characterized by a social-active behavioural phenotype (n = 5) selected roach before being cannibalistic, while asocial-inactive perch (n = 17) consumed conspecific and heterospecific prey evenly. Thus, asocial-inactive perch expressed significantly higher rates of cannibalism as compared to social-active individuals. Individual variation in cannibalism, linked to behavioural type, adds important mechanistic understanding to complex population and community dynamics, and also provides insight into the diversity and maintenance of animal personality.

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1571-1575 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Pivnička ◽  
M. Švátora

A shift in predominance from Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) to roach (Rutilus rutilus) in the Kličava Reservoir in 1964, 10 yr after filling, was attributed mainly to a marked decline in the ratio of female to male perch spawners. The ratio was about 1:4 for perch and unity for roach. Fecundity of perch was about 25% that of roach which, together with the decline in spawning females, probably contributed to smaller year-classes. The decline in growth rate of perch in response to increasing abundance was greater than that for roach. Under equal environmental conditions, roach is also more productive than perch. Key words: Percidae, Perca, Rutilus, Kličava Reservoir, Czechoslovakia, shift in predominance, fecundity, sex ratio, methodology, growth–abundance relationships


Aquaculture ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 313 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 84-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Żarski ◽  
Katarzyna Palińska ◽  
Katarzyna Targońska ◽  
Zoltán Bokor ◽  
László Kotrik ◽  
...  

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 136 (12) ◽  
pp. 1653-1662 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. KENNEDY

SUMMARYDevelopments in the study of the ecology of helminth parasites of freshwater fishes over the last half century are reviewed. Most research has of necessity been field based and has involved the search for patterns in population and community dynamics that are repeatable in space and time. Mathematical models predict that under certain conditions host and parasite populations can attain equilibrial levels through operation of regulatory factors. Such factors have been identified in several host-parasite systems and some parasite populations have been shown to persist over long time-periods. However, there is no convincing evidence that fish parasite populations are stable and regulated since in all cases alternative explanations are equally acceptable and it appears that they are non-equilibrial systems. It has proved particularly difficult to detect replicable patterns in parasite communities. Inter-specific competition, evidenced by functional and numerical responses, has been detected in several communities but its occurrence is erratic and its significance unclear. Some studies have failed to find any nested patterns in parasite community structure and richness, whereas others have identified such patterns although they are seldom constant over space and time. Departures from randomness appear to be the exception and then only temporary. It appears that parasite communities are non-equilibrial, stochastic assemblages rather than structured and organized.


2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 967-972 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Żarski ◽  
Á. Horváth ◽  
L. Kotrik ◽  
K. Targońska ◽  
K. Palińska ◽  
...  

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvie Thurnheer ◽  
Heinz-Ulrich Reyer

AbstractPredictions about population and community dynamics are usually based on lab experiments. Because the results are difficult to transfer to natural conditions, the major purpose of this study was to test the effects of biotic and abiotic factors on tadpole populations in a natural environment. We stocked six ponds, created the previous year, with known numbers of Rana esculenta and R. lessonae tadpoles and followed their development over several months. When compared among ponds, tadpole density correlated positively with the nitrate:phosphate ratio. This suggests that water chemistry may have affected survival, either directly or indirectly via productivity. Within ponds, both species showed a clear preference for the shallow zone. This behavior probably reflects a preference for warm water close to the surface, rather than avoidance of predators, because relative densities of odonates also increased from deep to shallow zones. This study is one of few that not only considers the distribution of the anuran tadpoles but the distribution of their predators as well.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Chervet ◽  
Markus Zöttl ◽  
Roger Schürch ◽  
Michael Taborsky ◽  
Dik Heg

Aim. The quantitative genetics underlying correlated behavioural traits (‘‘animal personality’’) have hitherto been studied mainly in domesticated animals. Here we report the repeatability () and heritability () of behavioural types in the highly social cichlid fish Neolamprologus pulcher. Methods. We tested 1779 individuals repeatedly and calculated the of behavioural types by variance components estimation (GLMM REML), using 1327 offspring from 162 broods from 74 pairs. Results. Repeatability of behavioural types was significant and considerable (0.546), but declined from 0.83 between tests conducted on the same day, to 0.19 on tests conducted up to 1201 days apart. All estimates were significant but low (e.g., pair identity SE). Additionally, we found significant variation between broods nested within the parent(s), but these were not related to several environmental factors tested. Conclusions. We conclude that despite a considerable , in this cichlid species is low, and variability in behavioural type appears to be strongly affected by other (non)genetic effects.


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