Food Habits of Bigmouth and Smallmouth Buffalo in Lewis and Clark Lake and the Missouri River

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Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative microscopic examination was conducted on a predetermined portion of the digestive tracts of 663 bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo. Fish collections were made during the months of open water using a variety, of gear types. Young-of-the-year, subadult, and adult bigmouth buffalo consumed primarily zooplankton (copepods, cladocerans) and apparently fed mostly removed from the bottom. The smallmouth buffalo appears to be an opportunist and fed on organisms as they became abundant. Primary food items taken by young-of-the-year of this species were zooplankton (copepods, cladocerans). Subadult and adult smallmouth buffalo fed mostly on zooplankton (copepods, cladocerans) and attached algae (Chlorophyta, Chrysophyta) and to a lesser extent on insects (mainly chironomlds) and detritus. It appears that the smallmouth buffalo was feeding primarily on the bottom in shallow shoreline area.

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