Biomass of planktonic crustaceans and the food of young cyprinids in the littoral zone of Lake Balaton

Abstract

The littoral zone of Lake Balaton and its periphyton-zooplankton-fish communities have been investigated intensively in recent years. Total average number of crustacean plankton varied from 36 to 126 ind 1−1, their biomass from 0.49 to 1.86 mg ww 1−1 month −1 at different areas of the littoral zone. In general, these values for the above parameters were higher in hypertrophic areas. 23 fish species occurred in the littoral zone with cyprinids dominating. The seasonal food spectra of Y—O—Y roach (Rutilus rutilus), white bream (Blicca bjoerkna) and bream (Abramis brama) were based mainly on planktonic crustaceans and benthic/periphytic invertebrates. According to the frequency of occurrence of crustaceans and other invertebrates, the food composition of young cyprinids differed significantly in the NE and SW-basins of the lake.