Food and prey selection of recently released American shad (Alosa sapidissima) larvae

We examined the diet composition and prey selection of 1,875 recently released American shad (Alosa sapidissima) larvae (approximately 18-d old). Larvae were collected in the Juniata River, Pennsylvania, during June in 1991 and 1992. Chironomid pupae were selected by shad larvae and were the major component in the diet in 1991 (50%) and 1992 (96%). Chironomid larvae, the second-ranked prey in the diet, were less preferred both years. Less than one percent of the shad larvae contained riverine prey 2 to 3 hr after release, and only about 4% contained natural food 24 to 30 hr following release. At least for the 30 hr following release, feeding activity of stocked shad appears to be much reduced compared to that of wild populations.