Size specificity of predation by Japanese medaka Oryzias latipes on Daphnia pulex

Abstract

We compared predation by medaka, Oryzias latipes, on four age-classes of Daphnia pulex to examine the relationship between predation rate and prey body size. The number of individuals eaten by a medaka fish differed significantly among four size classes of D. pulex showing a humped relationship with increasing age classes. We found that the predation by medaka depended on prey body size and we discuss how size-specific predation by medaka can influence cladoceran populations. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.