Experimental herbivory of native Australian macrophytes by the introduced Mozambique tilapiaOreochromis mossambicus

Autor:	Damien Burrows, Alan J. Lymbery, Matthew J. Knott, Robert G. Doupé, Jason Schaffer
Rok vydání:	2010
Předmět:	Oreochromis mossambicus food.ingredient Ecology biology food and beverages Introduced species Aquatic animal Tilapia biology.organism_classification Macrophyte food Aquatic plant Periphyton Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Trophic level
Zdroj:	Austral Ecology. 35:24-30
ISSN:	1442-9993 1442-9985
DOI:	10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.02008.x
Popis:	This study describes experimental herbivory and detritivory of three common native aquatic macrophyte species by the introduced Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) (Pisces: Cichlidae), and its physiological response to their consumption. There was a highly significant effect of fish herbivory on plant weight for each of the macrophyte species, but this effect was not influenced by any preference for periphyton. Despite the herbivory, there was a highly significant loss of fish body weight across all plant species and weight could only be maintained by supplementary feeding of a high protein fish flake. These results suggest that despite eating these plants, an alternative food resource may be needed for survival and may trigger trophic plasticity in O. mossambicus.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::83d9c6ec3e0b6c816673b2c0d91ac71c https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.02008.x Zobrazit plný text záznamu Plný text