Do Changes in Prey Community in the Environment Affect the Feeding Selectivity of Silver Carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) in the Pearl River, China?

Yuguo Xia, Qianfu Liu, Shuli Zhu, Yuefei Li, Xinhui Li and Jie Li ()
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Yuguo Xia: Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Qianfu Liu: Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Shuli Zhu: Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Yuefei Li: Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Xinhui Li: Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
Jie Li: Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: Silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) is a world-wide species and its ecosystem level influence is controversial. Therefore, understanding the feeding behaviour of silver carp is important for assessing ecosystem functioning in many freshwater habitats. In this study, we used 18S rRNA sequencing to identify the spatiotemporal taxonomic composition of water and fish gut samples. Significant seasonal and spatial variations were observed in the taxonomic compositions of water and fish gut samples ( p < 0.05). Five selected environmental factors (temperature, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, ammonia, and distance from the first dam downstream) significantly affected the taxonomic composition of water ( p < 0.05). Additionally, the temperature was the most important factor affecting seasonal (winter and summer) variations in the prey community composition of water, whereas the distance from the dam was the key factor contributing to spatial differences in the community. Significant differences were observed in the taxonomic composition between the water and fish gut samples ( p < 0.05). Feeding selectivity analysis revealed that the selection ratios of the top 20 prey taxa underwent slight spatial and temporal changes, but silver carp always preferred to feed on Peridiniales, unidentified Streptophyta, unidentified Trebouxiophyceae, and unidentified Chlorophyceae. These results indicate that changes in the prey community in the environment affect the taxonomic composition of the fish gut but do not affect feeding preferences.

Keywords: food composition; diet preference; 18S rRNA sequencing; Pearl River; plankton community (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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