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Crayfishes as a prey
MAN, Milan
Due to the increase in the number of non-native species of crayfishes and their presence on more and more localities, there is the possibility of their elimination using predatory fish species. The length relationships between a prey and a predator could clarify this possibility. The aim of this bachelor thesis was to develop high quality literary review about the incorporation of crayfish into the food chain and processing samples of a perch (Perca fluviatilis) from a locality with an occurrence of juvenile crayfishes (Astacus astacus). I wanted to verify the possibility of a perch predation on juvenile crayfish individuals. However, only three crayfishes were found in the analyzed perchs. After a very low percentage of crayfishes in the analyzed perchs, a laboratory experiment was carried out with young of the year of signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and perchs. Unfortunately, this experiment ended unexpectedly. The crayfishes were served to perchs, but the fishes showed no interest in them throughout the experiment. The results of food analysis show, that smaller perchs are able to eat crayfish, but they are not a sought-after component of their diet. In this case, the low frequency of crayfishes in the diet was caused by enough other food (insect larvae) and also the number of shelters in the pond, where the crayfishes were reared. In the experiment, I unfortunately failed to confirm the positive relationship between a perch as a predator and a juvenile crayfish as a prey. However, the conclusions of the other studies on the use of larger perchs show the preference and high frequency of occurence of juvenile crayfishes in their diet.
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