Original paper
Beiträge zur Ernährung des Seesaiblings (Salvelinus alpinus) in Österreich
[Contributions on the diet of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in Austria]
Reimer, Gerhard
Archiv für Hydrobiologie Volume 105 Number 2 (1985), p. 229 - 238
20 references
published: Dec 6, 1985
DOI: 10.1127/archiv-hydrobiol/105/1989/229
ArtNo. ESP141010502006, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
Chars from seven Austrian lakes (three above the timber line, four in the Austrian lake district Salzkammergut) have been studied. The digestive tract filling in percent of body weight is higher among the dwarfed forms in high-mountain lakes than among better growing populations in lower-laying areas. This is an argument against the theory that dwarfed chars suffer starvation. In Mittlerer Plenderlesee, surface food predominates during the ice-free period; under the ice cover chars feed mainly on aquatic insect larvae. In Oberer Plenderlesee the (summer) food is similar. In Drachensee in summer, more chironomid pupae than surface food are taken up, in Winter mainly aquatic insect larvae. In the lakes studied in Salzkammergut, chars tend to feed in summer nearly entirely on crustacean-plankton and chironomid pupae; in winter they take more benthic food. In Hallstättersee, however, they seem to be forced out of the plankton zone by coregonids. Fish are only rarely found in the digestive tract.
Keywords
plankton • Salzkammergut • Drachensee • Plenderlesee • Hallstättersee • Austria