Food and Feeding Habits of the Pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758), Population from Lake Eğirdir (Turkey)

Authors: İSMET BALIK, HIDIR ÇUBUK, BELGİN KARAŞAHİN, REMZİYE ÖZKÖK, RAHMİ UYSAL, AHMET ALP

Abstract: The stomach contents of 986 pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758), collected from Lake Eğirdir in Turkey were investigated between March 2001 and February 2002. Thirteen taxonomic categories were identified from the 1745 prey items analysed. It was determined that the diet of pikeperch in Lake Eğirdir consisted of some fish species (Knipowitschia sp., Aphanius anatoliae anatoliae, Gambusia affinis, Nemacheilus lendli, Carassius gibelio, and Sander lucioperca), odonats (Calopteryx splendens), mysids (Mysis), amphipods (Gammarus) and dipterans (Chironomus). Of these prey categories, fish was more important than the others. In particular, Knipowitschia sp. and A. a. anatoliae were the primary prey for the pikeperch. The proportions of vertebrates and invertebrates in the diet composition of pikeperch in the 150-190 mm length class were found roughly equal. The importance of vertebrates (especially prey fish) in the diet of the pikeperch in Lake Eğirdir increased with increasing body size of fish, but, at the same time, the importance of invertebrates decreased. Pikeperch longer than 300 mm consumed only fish, frogs and odonats. The cannibalism rate was 0.6%. In addition, it was found that the diet of the pikeperch in Lake Eğirdir considerably changed from season to season.

Keywords: Pikeperch, Sander lucioperca, food, feeding habit, Lake Eğirdir

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