Diet variation in climbing perch populations inhabiting eight different types of ecosystems

Abstract

The present study revealed that populations of climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) inhabiting river, backwater, shallow water channel, ponds with and without vegetation cover, marsh, sewage canal and aquaculture tank varied significantly in the number of food items consumed. Chironomous larvae, organic debris and filamentous algae were the common ingredients of the menu of this species across focal ecosystems, whereas sewage canal population was found surviving solely on insect larvae and organic debris.