Journal article
Brown trout rather than eels are predators of Australian bass (Percalates novemaculeata) fingerlings in the Snowy River, Australia
Cybium, Vol.50(2), pp.171-182
2026
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Abstract
Fingerling stocking is used to achieve fisheries and conservation objectives and has implications for ecosystems. During a two-year focal period, substantial numbers of Australian bass (Percalates novemaculeata) fry (n = 227,000) measuring 15-25 mm fork length (FL) were stocked across a section of the Snowy River, a steep coastal system in eastern Australia. In the months post-release we examined the stomach contents of potential predators of these fingerlings and investigated dietary overlap of six medium to large-bodied species comprising the resident fish assemblage. The introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta) was especially piscivorous with fish accounting for 74.4% of the diet by weight, including identifiable Australian bass (-80 mm TL) and Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni). In contrast, long-finned eel (Anguilla reinhardtii) and short-finned eel (Anguilla australis) were only occasionally eating small numbers of Australian smelt and brown trout. Neither eel species was found to have consumed Australian bass fingerlings. We found minimal resource overlap among predatory species indicating competition for food resources may not be a characteristic of the resident fish assemblage. Our study reinforces the need for on-ground monitoring of food web processes in managing recreational fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. This real world data is critical to inform desktop modelling, since food webs can make for unpredictable science.
Details
- Title
- Brown trout rather than eels are predators of Australian bass (Percalates novemaculeata) fingerlings in the Snowy River, Australia
- Creators
- Leo M. CameronLee J. BaumgartnerGavin L. ButlerDaniel J. Bucher - Southern Cross UniversityBrendan C. Ebner
- Publication Details
- Cybium, Vol.50(2), pp.171-182
- Publisher
- Societe Francaise d'Ichtyologie
- Identifiers
- 991013380246402368
- Academic Unit
- Office of the Vice Chancellor
- Language
- English; French
- Resource Type
- Journal article