Zooplankton Preference of Larval Lake Whitefish

Abstract

Larval lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis 14–18 mm long preferred copepods, especially Diaptomus sicilis, to cladocerans and rotifers. All sizes of zooplankton were eaten but few larger zooplankters (>2.0 mm) were selected. Size, pigmentation, and movements of the zooplankters probably influence the apparent preferences of the fish as measured by the linear food selection index.