The foraging behavior of a generalist feeder, the central mudminnow (Umbra limi)

The natural diet and habitat use patterns of the central mudminnow suggest that it is a generalist feeder capable of using a variety of foraging sites. Laboratory experiments were performed to measure the efficiency of this species as it foraged from four sites: open bottom substrate, the water column, submerged macrophytes, and the water's surface. Midwater, macrophyte, and surface foraging rates did not differ significantly from each other, whereas bottom rates were somewhat lower. Foraging success was also unaffected by small changes in the experimental environment. Significant variation existed among the foraging patterns of individual fish. The observed versatility of the mudminnow's foraging behavior could aid this species in exploiting physically severe, variable, unproductive, and (or) species-poor environments.