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Competition-induced switch in young of the year perch, Perca fluviatilis: an experimental test of resource limitation

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Synopsis

The effects of roach, Rutilus rutilus, on the diet and growth rate of young-of-the-year perch, Perca fluviatilis, were studied in field enclosures. In the absence of roach, perch fed mainly on cladoceran zooplankton while they fed on copepods and macroinvertebrates in the presence of roach. The growth rates of perch in the enclosures with roach were lower than those lacking roach and comparable to that of perch in the lake. Previous suggestions that YOY perch (both P. fluviatilis and P. flavescens) generally are not resource limited are not supported by available data.

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Persson, L. Competition-induced switch in young of the year perch, Perca fluviatilis: an experimental test of resource limitation. Environ Biol Fish 19, 235–239 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005353

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005353

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