Selective feeding behavior of larval naked gobies Gobiosoma bosc and blennies Chasmodes bosquianus and Hypsoblennius hentzi: preferences for bivalve veligers

Naked gobies Gobiosoma bose, striped blennies Chasmodes bosquianus, and fea ther blennies Hypsoblennius hentzi provide important intermediate links wit hin the trophic structure of estuarine oyster reef communities. Predator-pr ey interactions between planktonic larvae of these fishes and larval easter n oysters Crassostrea virginica may influence recruitment success within oy ster reef communities. These 3 species of oyster reef fish larvae were cult ured from wild nests and used in multifactorial laboratory feeding experime nts with larval oysters or hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria as well as wild plankton as prey items to determine the effects of predator age, predator concentration, and prey type on feeding selectivity of these fishes. Predat or age significantly influenced feeding behavior of naked gobies and feathe r blennies. Predator concentration did not significantly effect feeding beh avior for any of the 3 fish species. Prey type significantly affected feedi ng behavior of feather blennies and naked gobies. Naked gobies consumed biv alve veligers preferentially at all veliger concentrations. Feather blennie s consumed veligers preferentially at concentrations as low as 12% of the a vailable prey field. Striped blennies were less specialized in their feedin g patterns but still consumed bivalve veligers preferentially at prey field concentrations as low as 11% veligers.