Feeding Habits of Tench (Tinca tinca L., 1758) in Beysehir Lake (Turkey)

Abstract

In this study, alimentary canal contents of 188 tench (Tinca tinca L., 1758) caught from Beysehir Lake (Turkey) between April 2004 and March 2005 were examined for feeding habits. Phytoplanktonic and zoooplanktonic organisms, insects, detritus (animal and vegetable) and two most common parasites of tench, Ligula intestinalis and Asymphylodora tincae were determined in observed in the alimentary canal of fish. There was a significant difference between the frequency of the existance of Chlorella, Coscinidiscus, Fragilaria, Mougetia, Phytoconis, Pinnularia, Rivularia, Synedra, Ulotrix, Brachionus, Gammarus sp., and Ligula intestinalis among seasons (df=3, P<0.05). Only 6 of these genera (Chaetophora, Coscinidiscus, Phytoconis, Surirella, Synedra, Daphnia) had a significant difference among age classes (df=5, P<0.05). Additionally, it was found that only 5 of the 188 tench (2.66%) were observed to have almost empty alimentary canal. Algae and macrophytes were found to be the most considerable food types in the present study, which is followed by zooplankton and insect larvae.