Advances in Animal Science and Zoology

0511750 - BC 2020 RIV US eng M - Monography Chapter
Vejřík, Lukáš - Vejříková, Ivana - Blabolil, Petr - Peterka, Jiří - Čech, Martin
Catfish as a potential key species for biomanipulation purposes.
Advances in Animal Science and Zoology. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2019 - (Jenkins, O.), s. 126-134. ISBN 978-1-53616-048-2
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : apex predator * Silurus glanis * food source
OECD category: Zoology

European catfish is able to produce abundant populations thanks to its longevity, social tolerance and low level of cannibalism. Thus its significant impact on the aquatic ecosystems is unquestionable. Catfish, similarly to other apex predators, influences all trophic levels of the food web. However, the impact is not equally distributed. Species with nocturnal activity are more affected by predation of catfish than that with daylight activity. Further, predators at lower trophic levels (mesopredators) are more sensitive to predation of catfish than omnivorous species. Catfish population can dispose up to 26% of the total fish biomass. Therefore, it plays an important role in biomanipulation of many freshwater systems. Even with the natural annual recruitment, decrease in total fish biomass is distinctive over time. Catfish can easily adapt to new food sources and some individuals reveal a short-term specialization on currently available, commonly seasonal, food sources, e.g. semiaquatic prey like amphibians, waterfowls, or mammals. Similarly, terrestrial prey such as pigeon or marine prey was described in catfish diet. These adaptations enable catfish to maintain the population at high abundances.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0302467