Rearing environment affect important life skills in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

• The effect of rearing environment on the behaviour of young-of-the-year pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) bred at three different production facilities was investigated. Two groups were reared in semi-natural ponds and one group in indoor tanks. Exploratory, foraging and anti-predator behaviours were studied in aquarium experiments. There were no significant differences between pond- and tank-reared fish in reluctance to explore their new environment, but pond-reared fish spent significantly more time in macro-vegetation. Pond-reared fish were significantly faster to start foraging on live prey (Neomysis integer) that they had not encountered before. As compared with tank-reared fish, pond-reared fish were also significantly more active in their anti-predator response. Rearing environment obviously influences the development of important life skills. These differences may impact the success rate when stocking young-of-the-year pikeperch into natural waters.

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NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Ekologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Ecology (hsv//eng)

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