<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The aim of the study was to describe the feeding habits of sterlet, <italic>Acipenser ruthenus</italic> L., in the mid section of the Danube (km 1676-1694). The fish were caught in the summers of 1991 and 1992. The food composition of 85 sterlets (mean body length BL = 37.1 cm; body weightW= 540 g) was analyzed. Most of the fish analyzed (98.8%) had full digestive tracts. Sterlet is considered to be a typical benthic feeder. The food analyzed contained insect larvae and pupae (Trichoptera, Chironomidae), amphipods (<italic>Corophium</italic> sp., <italic>Gammarus</italic> sp.), bivalves (Bivalvia), polychaetes (Annelida) and barbel, <italic>Barbus barbus</italic> (L.). The dominant food items in the digestive tracts were larval caddisflies (Trichoptera), Corophium (Amphipoda), and larval Chironomidae. Regardless of sterlet body size, the fish consumed Chironomidae followed by Trichoptera. The remaining components were noted in the food rarely and in small quantities. One exception were bivalves that were a considerable dietary component of the largest sterlet size group.</p></abstract>

The aim of the study was to describe the feeding habits of sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L., in the mid section of the Danube (km 1676-1694). The fish were caught in the summers of 1991 and 1992. The food composition of 85 sterlets (mean body length BL = 37.1 cm; body weightW= 540 g) was analyzed. Most of the fish analyzed (98.8%) had full digestive tracts. Sterlet is considered to be a typical benthic feeder. The food analyzed contained insect larvae and pupae (Trichoptera, Chironomidae), amphipods (Corophium sp., Gammarus sp.), bivalves (Bivalvia), polychaetes (Annelida) and barbel, Barbus barbus (L.). The dominant food items in the digestive tracts were larval caddisflies (Trichoptera), Corophium (Amphipoda), and larval Chironomidae. Regardless of sterlet body size, the fish consumed Chironomidae followed by Trichoptera. The remaining components were noted in the food rarely and in small quantities. One exception were bivalves that were a considerable dietary component of the largest sterlet size group.

Feeding ecology of sterlet <italic>Acipenser ruthenus</italic> L. in the Hungarian section of the Danube River

Faculty of Fish Biology and Culture, University of Warmia and Mazury, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland

Department of Ichthyology, Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn

Faculty of Criminology and Forensic Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland

Fisheries & Aquatic Life

Feeding ecology of sterlet  L. in the Hungarian section of the Danube River

The aim of the study was to describe the feeding habits of sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L., in the mid section of the Danube (km 1676-1694). The fish were...

Feeding ecology of sterlet Acipenser ruthenus L. in the Hungarian section of the Danube River

Pubblicato online: 18 lug 2011

Pagine: 105 - 111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10086-011-0012-9

Parole chiave
diet, invertebrate fauna, river

This content is open access.