Predation of European catfish on anadromous fish species in an anthropised area
Nicolas Guillerault A B , Stéphanie Boulêtreau A and Frédéric Santoul A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A EcoLab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, F-31062 Toulouse, France.
B Station d’Ecologie Expérimentale et Théorique, CNRS, UPS, UMR 5321, F-09200 Moulis, France.
C Corresponding author. Email: frederic.santoul@univ-tlse3.fr
Marine and Freshwater Research 70(5) 682-686 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18206
Submitted: 30 November 2017 Accepted: 3 October 2018 Published: 7 December 2018
Abstract
Increases in both food availability and intraspecific competition downstream of dams have the potential to trigger the emergence of trophic specialisation among fish predators, with considerable implications for prey species populations. The aim of this study was to assess whether the presence of a dam located on the River Garonne (France) affected the dietary preference of the European catfish Silurus glanis towards anadromous prey. Stable isotope analysis showed that the contribution of marine-derived carbon in the diet of the European catfish was substantial (on average 53% of the diet) and was similar between individuals caught downstream of the dam and those caught from the free running part of the river. In contrast with previous studies, a significant relationship between the size of European catfish individuals and their consumption of marine-derived nutrients was found in this study. Anadromous fish populations are in decline; therefore, this significant predation is concerning.
Additional keywords: fresh water, introduced species, marine, stable isotopes.
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