ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
Chironomidae
;
fish
;
food
;
detritus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract An investigation into the trophic dependencies of fish and chironomids in the River Thames, U.K., is described. The food of 15 species of larval chironomid was studied and the importance of chironomids as food for five species of fish was assessed. Very fine detritus, probably tripton, was the sole food item of planktonic first instar larvae. Fine detritus was the most important food item in the diets of most larval chironomid species and was even a major food item of the predacious Tanupodinae. Diatoms were the next most important food item; filamentous green algae, coarse detritus and animal remains, although present in the gut, were not important numerically. It was concluded that three species were filter feeders, whilst the other species were non-selective detritivores. Chironomids were important in the diets of all fish species studied; peak numbers were ingested in June. During the winter, fish ingested chironomids from the Acorus and flint zones. In the spring and summer, when large populations of chironomids were available in the Nuphar zone, the fish utilized these. This study underlines the importance of detritus in the river system, from the tripton to the fish via the chironomids.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00043541
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