I. Tatrai et al., THE IMPACT OF MATURE CYPRINID FISH ON THE COMPOSITION AND BIOMASS OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES, Archiv fur Hydrobiologie, 131(3), 1994, pp. 309-320
The effects of predation by mature cyprinid fish on the composition, b
iomass and seasonal dynamics of macroinvertebrate biomass were investi
gated in fishpond experiments. Different sized adult bream (Abramis br
ama L.) and carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were stocked at different densit
ies. Benthivores were forced to feed on benthos by introduction of pla
nktivorous perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) fry. Total dry biomass of bent
hic macroinvertebrates was not clearly reduced neither by large nor by
small bream stockings. Carp significantly reduced the biomass of tota
l benthos. Some members of the benthos might be influenced by fish onl
y indirectly contributing to formation of new microhabitats preferred
by these invertebrates.