Development of a foraging model framework to reliably estimate daily food consumption by young fishes

Authored by David Deslauriers, Steven R Chipps, Alex J Rosburg

Date Published: 2017

DOI: 10.1139/cjfas-2016-0331

Sponsors: United States Geological Survey (USGS) United States Fish and Wildlife Service United States Army Corps of Engineers

Platforms: No platforms listed

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

We developed a foraging model for young fishes that incorporates handling and digestion rate to estimate daily food consumption. Feeding trials were used to quantify functional feeding response, satiation, and gut evacuation rate. Once parameterized, the foraging model was then applied to evaluate effects of prey type, prey density, water temperature, and fish size on daily feeding rate by age-0 (19-70 mm) pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). Prey consumption was positively related to prey density (for fish > 30 mm) and water temperature, but negatively related to prey size and the presence of sand substrate. Model evaluation results revealed good agreement between observed estimates of daily consumption and those predicted by the model (r(2) = 0.95). Model simulations showed that fish feeding on Chironomidae or Ephemeroptera larvae were able to gain mass, whereas fish feeding solely on zooplankton lost mass under most conditions. By accounting for satiation and digestive processes in addition to handling time and prey density, the model provides realistic estimates of daily food consumption that can prove useful for evaluating rearing conditions for age-0 fishes.

Tags

Individual-based model Functional-response Shovelnose sturgeon Mississippi river Bioenergetics model Yellow perch Sturgeon scaphirhynchus-albus Endangered pallid sturgeon Missouri river-basin Prey size