Скачать или смотреть White Sucker Sifting Feeding Strategy

White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) feeding along the bottom of the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta. White Suckers are a common native species throughout the Bow River system as well as much of North America. As a bottom feeder they play an important role in the ecosystem, helping to stir up the stream bottom and keep algae in check. Unlike their common counterpart the Longnose Sucker (Catostomus catostomus), White Sucker don't scrape their food from hard surfaces like rocks and wood, but rather pluck and sift through sediments to pick food items out and pass unwanted material through their operculum or spit it back out. Suckers are not generally considered a sport fish, but they are a fascinating fish nonetheless. They have a peaceful demeanor and are happy to feed in peace, seemingly becoming more active around dusk.