Trophic plasticity of Yellow Perch, Perca flavescens, in a gradient of habitats in Lake Champlain
Vercesi, Stella
Vercesi, Stella
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Abstract
Omnivorous predators can use a variety of resources to avoid competition and deal with environmental variability. The degree to which omnivores specialize or diversify their diet can vary across different habitats (i.e., trophic plasticity). We investigated the trophic plasticity of yellow perch in four habitats of Lake Champlain: reef, sandy shore, rocky shore, and marsh. Fish was consumed predominately in rocky shore, reef, and marsh habitats, while perch in sandy shore habitats ate mostly amphipods and insects. Gastropods were consumed in the marsh, indicating that perch can change their diet based on food availability across diverse habitats in Lake Champlain.
Description
Undergraduate
Date
2024-01-01