QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LAUDER, G. V. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by LAUDER, G. V.

Journal of Experimental Biology 88,49-72 (1980)
Published by Company of Biologists 1980

The Suction Feeding Mechanism in Sunfishes (Lepomis): An Experimental Analysis

GEORGE V. LAUDER ¹

¹ The Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. 02138, U.S.A.

The process of prey capture by inertial suction was studied in three species of sunfishes (Lepomis auritus, L. macrochirus, and L. gibbosus) by the simultaneous recording of buccal and opercular cavity pressures in order to test current hydrodynamic models of feeding in fishes. Synchronous high-speed films permitted the correlation of kinematic patterns of jaw bone movement with specific pressure waveforms. Opercular cavity pressures averaged onefifth buccal pressures and pressure magnitude was correlated with prey type. Peak buccal and opercular pressures were -650 cm H₂O and -150 cm H₂O respectively; peak rate of pressure change was -100 cm H₂O/ms. Buccal pressure magnitude varied inversely with degree of predator satiation.

Opercular pressure waveforms have an initial positive phase followed by a prolonged negative phase and then a final positive phase. The initial positive pressure may be absent during slow strikes at worms. Buccal pressure waveforms show considerable variability. The modal waveform consists of a sharp negative pressure pulse followed by a positive phase and finally by another pressure reduction. Delayed opercular abduction relative to mouth cavity compression correlates with the presence of a positive buccal phase. The second buccal negative pressure is the result of rapid mouth closing causing a pressure reduction (water hammer effect) as water flow continues posteriorly. These data indicate that (1) the buccal and opercular cavities are functionally separated by a gill curtain of high resistance, (2) that inertial effects of water are important in the description of the suction feeding process, (3) that a reverse flow of water (opercular to buccal cavity) may occur during the early phase of mouth opening prior to establishment of a buccal to opercular flow regime, and (4) current models of respiratory pressure and flow pattern cannot be applied to feeding. Current hydrodynamic models of suction feeding in fishes are re-evaluated in the light of this analysis.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. D. Marshall, K. M. Kovacs, and C. Lydersen Feeding kinematics, suction and hydraulic jetting capabilities in bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) J. Exp. Biol., March 1, 2008; 211(5): 699 - 708. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. D. Wilga, P. J. Motta, and C. P. Sanford Evolution and ecology of feeding in elasmobranchs Integr. Comp. Biol., July 1, 2007; 47(1): 55 - 69. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Wainwright, A. M. Carroll, D. C. Collar, S. W. Day, T. E. Higham, and R. A. Holzman Suction feeding mechanics, performance, and diversity in fishes Integr. Comp. Biol., July 1, 2007; 47(1): 96 - 106. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Mehta and P. C. Wainwright Biting releases constraints on moray eel feeding kinematics J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2007; 210(3): 495 - 504. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Higham Feeding, fins and braking maneuvers: locomotion during prey capture in centrarchid fishes J. Exp. Biol., January 1, 2007; 210(1): 107 - 117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Higham, S. W. Day, and P. C. Wainwright The pressures of suction feeding: the relation between buccal pressure and induced fluid speed in centrarchid fishes J. Exp. Biol., September 1, 2006; 209(17): 3281 - 3287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Higham, S. W. Day, and P. C. Wainwright Multidimensional analysis of suction feeding performance in fishes: fluid speed, acceleration, strike accuracy and the ingested volume of water J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2006; 209(14): 2713 - 2725. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Higham, S. W. Day, and P. C. Wainwright Sucking while swimming: evaluating the effects of ram speed on suction generation in bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus using digital particle image velocimetry J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2005; 208(14): 2653 - 2660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. W. Day, T. E. Higham, A. Y. Cheer, and P. C. Wainwright Spatial and temporal patterns of water flow generated by suction-feeding bluegill sunfish Lepomis macrochirus resolved by Particle Image Velocimetry J. Exp. Biol., July 15, 2005; 208(14): 2661 - 2671. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Carroll, P. C. Wainwright, S. H. Huskey, D. C. Collar, and R. G. Turingan Morphology predicts suction feeding performance in centrarchid fishes J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2004; 207(22): 3873 - 3881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Carroll Muscle activation and strain during suction feeding in the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides J. Exp. Biol., February 22, 2004; 207(6): 983 - 991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. P. J. Sanford and P. C. Wainwright Use of sonomicrometry demonstrates the link between prey capture kinematics and suction pressure in largemouth bass J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2002; 205(22): 3445 - 3457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. P. Hernandez, M. J. F. Barresi, and S. H. Devoto Functional Morphology and Developmental Biology of Zebrafish: Reciprocal Illumination from an Unlikely Couple Integr. Comp. Biol., April 1, 2002; 42(2): 222 - 231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Grubich Prey Capture in Actinopterygian Fishes: A Review of Suction Feeding Motor Patterns with New Evidence from an Elopomorph Fish, Megalops atlanticus Integr. Comp. Biol., December 1, 2001; 41(6): 1258 - 1265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Alfaro, J. Janovetz, and M. W. Westneat Motor Control Across Trophic Strategies: Muscle Activity of Biting and Suction Feeding Fishes Integr. Comp. Biol., December 1, 2001; 41(6): 1266 - 1279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Summers and L. Ferry-Graham Ventilatory modes and mechanics of the hedgehog skate (Leucoraja erinacea): testing the continuous flow model J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2001; 204(9): 1577 - 1587. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. C. Wainwright, L. A. Ferry-Graham, T. B. Waltzek, A. M. Carroll, C. D. Hulsey, and J. R. Grubich Evaluating the use of ram and suction during prey capture by cichlid fishes J. Exp. Biol., January 9, 2001; 204(17): 3039 - 3051. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]