Cannibalism In Fish: Ecology, Impacts, And Evolution
Cannibalism, the consumption of one’s own species, is a widespread phenomenon in fish, occurring in a diverse range of species. Ecological factors, such as food availability and population density, play a significant role in its prevalence. Fish exhibit various types of cannibalism, including egg and larval cannibalism. Its ecological impacts include population regulation and species composition shaping. Cannibalism has driven physiological and behavioral adaptations in fish, enabling them to pursue cannibalistic strategies. Further, it has evolutionary consequences, impacting life history traits and resource allocation within populations. Cannibalism has relevance in fields such as predator-prey interactions, aquaculture, and paleontology.
