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Animal Sciences

Western Kentucky University

2016

Benthic prey

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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Modulation Of Prey-Capture Kinematics And Suction Feeding Performance In Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus Dolomieu, Andrea Sejdic Apr 2016

Modulation Of Prey-Capture Kinematics And Suction Feeding Performance In Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus Dolomieu, Andrea Sejdic

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The feeding behavior of fishes is a topic that has piqued the interests of many researchers given the dynamic and ancestral nature of aquatic prey-capture. This study examines aquatic feeding in terms of the suction and ram components of feeding in smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, and how they modulate their kinematic behavior when attacking pelagic and benthic prey. Relative to other Micropterus genera, the reduced gape in smallmouth bass suggests they may create considerable suction pressure – stronger subambient pressure pulled through a smaller opening creates greater velocity. Suction feeding is useful when feeding on benthic prey, such as crayfish. …