This research is to investigate important environmental factors which affect the feeding ecology of two widely studied planktivorous fish: white crappie and bluegill sunfish. The environmental factors to be studied include light intensity, turbidity level, abundance of bloom-forming bluegreen algae, and availability of various size classes of zooplankton. Behavioral factors in the search cycle of these two species will also be studied which affect prey choice, feeding efficiency, and vigilance for predators, as well as the impact of diel activity patterns and satiation on feeding behavior. The generality of saltatory search will be established by observing a schooling species of fish (golden shiner) to see where such fish fall on a gradient of search strategies ranging from ambush to saltatory to cruise. The results of these studies will be incorporated into the existing model of planktivorous fish feeding, and the model will be tested against feeding trials performed in a large outdoor arena. The results of this series of studies will be of theoretical interest to those studying the ecology of predation as well as of practical interest to those responsible for the management of lakes and reservoirs and the production of game fish.
