Effects of prey density and short term food deprivation on the growth and survival of American shad larvae

Journal of Fish Biology
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Abstract

Growth and survival of 16-and 18-day-old American larvae (Alosa sapidissima) increased with prey density (0, 500, and 1000 Artemia l−1), though differences were not always significant. Significant differences were not observed in growth parameters and survival for larvae fed 500 v. 1000 Artemia 1−1 in laboratory experiments. Food deprivation for as little as 2 days had significant effects on survival but growth effects were not detectable until 4 days of starvation. These findings have application to the Susquehanna River where c. 11 million 2.5-week-old shad larvae are released annually as part of a basin wide effort to restore the species. Larvae released at upriver sites where food may be limiting would drift for 2–3 days to reach reservoirs with higher prey densities. Based on these laboratory findings, survival of shad may be reduced significantly if larvae do not feed prior to reaching reservoir environments.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Effects of prey density and short term food deprivation on the growth and survival of American shad larvae
Series title Journal of Fish Biology
DOI 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1995.tb01610.x
Volume 46
Issue 5
Year Published 1995
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center
Description 8 p.
First page 872
Last page 879
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