Ecology of top fish predators, European catfish and asp, with consequences to fish communities

Mgr. Marek ŠMEJKAL

Disertační práce

Abstract:

The dissertation thesis focuses on predator ecology in artificial water bodies. Paper I deals with the importance of chemical cues for predator-prey interactions in an aquatic environment. Here, I demonstrate that the ability to detect chemical cues represents a survival benefit for prey species. Paper II points out gillnet methodological bias, which may have subsequent repercussions in field evaluation of a predator's presence and assessment of larger fish abundance in general. Papers III and IV focus on asp Leuciscus aspius spawning grounds. In Paper III, I demonstrate how males maximize their spawning chances by early arrival and in Paper IV, I evaluate the predation pressure of asp prey, Alburnus alburnus, directed on asp eggs.

Abstract:

The dissertation thesis focuses on predator ecology in artificial water bodies. Paper I deals with the importance of chemical cues for predator-prey interactions in an aquatic environment. Here, I demonstrate that the ability to detect chemical cues represents a survival benefit for prey species. Paper II points out gillnet methodological bias, which may have subsequent repercussions in field evaluation of a predator's presence and assessment of larger fish abundance in general. Papers III and IV focus on asp Leuciscus aspius spawning grounds. In Paper III, I demonstrate how males maximize their spawning chances by early arrival and in Paper IV, I evaluate the predation pressure of asp prey, Alburnus alburnus, directed on asp eggs.

Keywords

chemical cues, European catfish, asp, bleak, protandry, predator-prey reversal

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 10. 8. 2017

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 25. 9. 2017
• Vedoucí: RNDr. Marie Prchalová, Ph.D.

JIHOČESKÁ UNIVERZITA V ČESKÝCH BUDĚJOVICÍCH

Přírodovědecká fakulta

Doktorský studijní program / obor:
Biologie / Hydrobiologie