DIEL FEEDING PATTERNS AND DAILY RATION OF CYPRINID SPECIES IN THE WILD DETERMINED USING AN ITERATIVE METHOD, MAXIMS

Diel feeding patterns and daily food rations of five cyprinids Amblyph aryngodon melettinus, Barbus chola, B. dorsalis, B. filamentosus and R asbora daniconius in two Sri Lankan reservoirs were studied based on d iel surveys using an iterative method, MAXIMS. A. melettinus and B. ch ola had single peaks of Feeding whereas diel feeding patterns with two peaks occurred in the other three species. Daily food rations varied seasonally and with size of fish. The iterative technique used is reli ably applicable for quantifying daily rations, and provides a means of linking trophic levels in natural populations of fish. (C) 1996 The F isheries Society of die British Isles