Sibling cannibalism among juvenile vundu under controlled conditions. II. Effect of body weight and environmental variables on the periodicity and intensity of type II cannibalism
[en] Cannibalism among starved groups of juvenile (19-48 days old) vundu catfish Heterobranchus longifilis was 66.5 % nocturnal, and its impact under modified day length was proportional to the duration of the dark phase. Shallow depth and high population density decreased the intensity of cannibalism, whereas low density and deeper environments had an opposite effect. The presence of refuges had no significant effect on cannibalism. The maintenance (R maint) and maximum (R max) daily food ration (%/day) of cannibals feeding on live preys were modelled as R maint = 3,899 Wc exp-0,327 (r2=0,684, d.f.= 5), where Wc was the body weight of the cannibal(g).The latter model indicated that the impact of a cannibal on a population decreased by a 20% margin each time the cannibal doubled its body weight, and suggested that cannibalism among vundu would become insignificant for cannibals heavier than 30 g. The significance of these findings is discussed within the contexts of vundu aquaculture and of general, conceptual models of the dynamics of cannibalism among fishes.
Disciplines :
Zoology
Author, co-author :
Baras, E.; Université de Liège - ULiège > Ethologie et Psychologie animales
Tissier, F.; Université de Liège - ULiège
Philippart, Jean-Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Mélard, Charles ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Centre de formation et de recherche en aquaculture (CEFRA)
Language :
English
Title :
Sibling cannibalism among juvenile vundu under controlled conditions. II. Effect of body weight and environmental variables on the periodicity and intensity of type II cannibalism