Effects of differential prey mobility on the foraging behaviour of a cyprinid fish,<i>Vimba elongata</i>

Abstract

The effects of reduced activity in the amphipod Gammarus jossarum on the foraging behaviour of naive and experienced cyprinid fish, Vimba elongata, were tested experimentally. Prey mobility reduced latencies. Generally, latencies declined with increasing experience of the fish. Vimba snapped at prey and inconspicuous particles at a higher frequency when prey were mobile than when they where immobile. The frequency of snaps increased with experience. These results conform to predictions from the search rate hypothesis.