Suruchi Chandra, Arun Kumar* & Kumar Ramashanker
University Department of Zoology, B. N. Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India
Received : 20th November, 2022 ; Revised : 22nd December, 2022
Abstract– A common major carp species in carp polyculture is Labeo catla, which is native to India. It is recognised as a plankton-eating water surface and midwater feeder. Adult feeds on zooplankton using large gill rakers, but its juvenile feeds on both zooplankton and phytoplankton. It prefers zooplankton in its natural environment at the fingerling stage, with phytoplankton serving as a supplemental diet. At this stage, all zooplanktonic species and smaller phytoplankton showed a strong positive selection. All zooplanktonic organisms exhibit severe negative selection in adults, but most phytoplanktonic organisms exhibit positive selection. Yet, in periphytic environments, it consumes nearby sub-periphytic species that are present. It is well acknowledged that L. catla demonstrates a variety of eating strategies as it matures from a fingerling to an adult and transitions from a planktonic to periphytic environment. The conversion of naturally occurring resources to fish biomass would be maximised by adopting a fish culture strategy in accordance with its differential feeding strategy, particularly in polyculture practices.
Key words: L. catla, Socioeconomic status, demography, fishermen community, strategies, upliftment.
