Ronald H. Kilgen

Food Habits of White Amur, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, and Redear Sunfish Receiving Supplemental Feed

White amur effectively controlled dense growths of Mougeotia, Zygnema, and Eleocharis, when introduced into a pond containing a supplementally fed largemouth bass-bluegill-redear population. Analysis of stomach contents showed that white amur preferred plant foods (88% by volume), and probably ingested a few insects and crustaceans while "grazing" on plant materials. Largemouth bass preferred fish and other animals (64%), but also ate some supplemental feed (32%). Bluegill stomachs contained more supplemental feed (44%) than any other item, followed by insects and animal parts (28%), and...