Prey selectivity in piscivorous bluefin tuna larvae reared in the laboratory

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Prey size selectivity in piscivorous fish larvae is important to both aquaculture and fisheries science, but laboratory experiments are few. We analyzed selective foraging in Atlantic bluefin tuna larvae ( Thunnus thynnus) using two larval fish prey species. The experiments revealed that selective foraging of prey sizes differed among bluefin tuna predator sizes (15–25 mm SL) and prey species, bonito ( S arda sarda ) and seabream ( Sparus aurata ). The observed pattern suggest a general preference for small bonito prey larvae but large seabream prey. Thus, prey size alone is not the only trait responsible for size selectivity in piscivorous fish larvae.