The influence of environmental factors on the feeding behavior of reared Japanese eel Anguilla japonica leptocephali

Read the full article See related articles

Listed in

This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.
Log in to save this article

Abstract

Artificially reared Japanese eel Anguilla japonica leptocephali (–7 mm total length, 6–7 days post-hatch) were fed picocyanobacteria ( Synechococcus sp., strain NIES-976) and their food intake was observed using autofluorescence intensity per area of the mid-hindgut used as an index of gut fullness. Time-course observations revealed that the larvae actively fed under both light and dark conditions. Food intake was significantly higher in the low-salinity group (50% seawater) than in the control group (100% seawater). Food intake did not differ significantly under photoperiods of 24-h light versus 24-h dark, indicating a light-independent diurnal feeding rhythm. A comparison of larval feeding efficiency under high and low cell densities of picocyanobacteria showed remarkably high intake of the food material by larvae in the high-density food concentration group, indicating density-dependent food ingestion. This specific feeding ecology whereby Japanese eel larvae are able to efficiently ingest suspended pico-sized food particles from seawater even in complete darkness may enable them to adapt to the oligotrophic environment.

Article activity feed