The utilization of terrestrial plants as a food source by the fish stock of a gently sloping marginal zone in Plover Cove Reservoir, Hong Kong

Abstract

A study of the feeding habits of the fish stock of a gently sloping marginal zone of Plover Cove Reservoir, Hong Kong, has been carried out. Analysis of the stomach contents of five species of fish revealed that, after a rise in water level which led to the inundation of considerable quantities of terrestrial vegetation, such plants were the major dietary item of the animals collected. This finding was consistent whether the points, occurrence or dominance methods of gut content analysis were used. Additionally, statistical analysis of these data strongly suggested that the fish migrated into the marginal zone to feed upon the flooded material thus raising the possibility that these animals are normally food limited. A discussion of the findings of this study indicated that the fish in Plover Cove Reservoir played an important role as agents of transmission and conversion of the input of allochthonous carbon compounds from the surrounding terrestrial environment. © 1983 Dr W. Junk Publishers.