Substrate color preference and feeding by juvenile Chinese sturgeon Acipenser sinensis: exploration of a behavioral adaptation

Abstract

Experiments were conducted in artificial stream tanks with juvenile Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, captured in the Yangtze Estuary to test two null hypotheses (1) juveniles have no preference for white or black substrates, and (2) white or black substrate color has no effect on juvenile feeding efficiency on the barcheek goby,Rhinogobius giurinus, a dark-colored prey of wild juveniles. Juveniles strongly preferred white substrate. However, in feeding tests, feeding efficiency by juveniles was similar on white or black substrates. Thus, substrate color had no effect on feeding efficiency. Results suggest the innate preference for white substrate is not a visual adaptation for capturing prey on a contrasting background, but is an adaptation predisposing juveniles to seek light-colored sandy substrate where forage abundance is greatest.