The Feeding Ecology of the Blue Tilapia (T. Aurea) in a North Carolina Reservoir

The blue tilapia (T. aurea) has been introduced at times in the southeast as a biological control agent for nuisance vegetation. The winter and summer food habits of this fish were studied in a heated North Carolina reservoir during 1984. Stomachs from fish captured in February contained mainly organic and inorganic detritus and large amounts of phytoplankton, which was blooming at the time. In August, when plankton was scarce, nearly the entire volume of the stomachs consisted of detritus gleaned from the sediments. The ratio of inorganic to organic material increased along with fish size. Zooplankton and benthic invertebrates comprised only small percentages of the tilapia stomach contents in this reservoir. The data indicate that the blue tilapia is an opportunistic feeder that will successfully utilize whatever food source is available.