Title

First record of predation by the alien invasive freshwater fish Micropterus salmoides L. (Centrarchidae) on migrating estuarine fishes in South Africa

Authors

O LF Weyl
H Lewis

Publication Date

2006

Keywords

bass, migration, predation, weir

Journal or Book Title

African Zoology

Abstract

This study presents results from stomach content analysis of 123 largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, sampled at the mouth of the fishway leading into a 3 m high weir at the tidal limit of the Kowie River, Eastern Cape Province (33 degrees 32'39"S, 26 degrees 46' 52.3"E). Stomach contents from small (120-240 mm fork length, FL) and large (250-440 mm. FL) fish were analysed separately. Fish were the dominant prey item in small bass, followed by terrestrial insects and Potamonautes sp. In large bass, Potamonautes sp. dominated the stomach contents, while fish were less dominant and other prey items were considered incidental. Estuarine fish species, Monodactylus falciformis, and two species of the family Mugilidae, Mugil cephalus and Myxus capensis, were the most common fish prey in both size classes of M. salmoides. These results are the first evidence of the alien M. salmoides preying on these three indigenous estuarine species during their migration into fresh water.

http://dx.doi.org/10.3377/1562-7020(2006)41[294:FROPBT]2.0.CO;2

Pages

294-296

Volume

41

Issue

2

This document is currently not available here.

COinS