How to surprise a copepod: Strike kinematics reduce hydrodynamic
disturbance and increase stealth of suction-feeding fish Limnol.
Oceanogr., 54(6), 2009, 2201-2212 | DOI:
10.4319/lo.2009.54.6.2201 ABSTRACT: To capture prey with
suction, fish must get sufficiently close to their prey to allow
the suction flow to overwhelm the prey and draw it into the
mouth. Both swimming towards the prey and suction flow create a
hydrodynamic disturbance, which can elicit an escape response by
the prey. Using particle image velocimetry, we measured flow
speeds and derived fluid deformation rates at the location of
the prey as bluegill sunfish fed. In front of the mouth, flows
had a composite time-dependent nature. First, the bow wave
pushed water away from the fish, but when the mouth opened and
suction commenced, flow reversed and water deformation rates
increased rapidly. Our inferences indicate that, at the prey,
the approaching bluegill is detected primarily based on its
suction-induced disturbance, rather than its bow wa