Comparative studies of the feeding capacity and preference of Aphyosemion gularis (Boulenger 1901) on some aquatic macroinvertebrates
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Date
2011
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Abstract
Background & objectives: An efficient larvivorous fish must show a predilection for mosquito larvae in the
presence of alternative preys. This study compares the feeding capacity and preference of Aphyosemion gularis
exposed to different kinds of aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Methods: Various prey organisms such as Anopheles larvae and pupae, Culex larvae, chironomid larvae and
ostracods were either singly and/or jointly presented at different densities to the fish and the number of prey
consumed in 12 h light and dark periods were recorded.
Results: The result showed that in terms of capacity and preference, the fish significantly consumed (p <0.05)
more Anopheles larvae than pupae and more Anopheles larvae compared to Culex and chironomid larvae. It was
also found that the fish preferred Culex larvae to chironomids larvae while significantly (p <0.05) more Anopheles
larvae were consumed compared to the more abundant ostracods.
Conclusion: The results indicate that A. gularis is adapted to feed more on Anopheles than Culex larvae on one
hand and generally preferred mosquito larvae to non-mosquito macroinvertebrates. The implication of this
observation is that the presence of other non-mosquito organisms considered in this study is unlikely to divert
the attention of the fish from mosquito larvae, especially Anopheles larvae. The fact that the fish are able to feed
on some of the non-mosquito organisms such as chironomids and ostracods, means that they can subsist on these
organisms in the absence of mosquito larvae.