Diet overlap between burbot (Lota lota (L.)) and whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus (L.)) in a subarctic lake

The growth of burbot in ultraoligotrophic Kilpisjärvi, a lake in northern Finland, is slow. The mean lengths of age-5 and age-9 burbot were 198 mm and 217 mm, respectively. Stomach contents of 45 burbot (144—274 mm) and 331 whitefish (117—345 mm) were analysed to determine any possible diet overlap...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales zoologici fennici 1999-01, Vol.36 (4), p.205-214
Main Authors: Tolonen, Arto, Kjellman, Jakob, Lappalainen, Jyrki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Crustaceans
Diet
Food
Freshwater fishes
Insect larvae
Lakes
Limnology
Mollusks
Pupae
Whitefish
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Summary:The growth of burbot in ultraoligotrophic Kilpisjärvi, a lake in northern Finland, is slow. The mean lengths of age-5 and age-9 burbot were 198 mm and 217 mm, respectively. Stomach contents of 45 burbot (144—274 mm) and 331 whitefish (117—345 mm) were analysed to determine any possible diet overlap between the studied species. According to logistic regressions, the main diet of burbot longer than 257 mm was fish, whereas the smallest burbot (< 165 mm) ingested mainly insect larvae. The length-dependent probabilities of burbot ingesting certain food items did not differ between the ice-covered and open-water periods. During the ice-covered period burbot preferentially preyed on molluscs, insect larvae and benthic crustaceans, while most whitefish smaller than 274 mm ingested zooplankton. During the open-water period, more than 50% of whitefish smaller than 191 mm ingested zooplankton, while those in the length interval 127—244 mm preferred benthic crustaceans. The largest whitefish (> 294 mm) ingested insect larvae during the ice-covered period and insect pupae during the open× water period. Independently of season, most large whitefish (> 274 mm) ingested molluscs. The diet overlap between burbot and whitefish was thus highest during the ice-covered period.
ISSN:0003-455X
1797-2450