Data from: The interaction between suction feeding performance and prey escape response determines feeding success in larval fish

The survival of larval marine fishes during early development depends on
their ability to capture prey. Most larval fish capture prey by expanding
their mouth, generating a suction flow that draws the prey into it. These
larvae dwell in a hydrodynamic regime of intermediate Reynolds numbers,
shown to impede their ability to capture non-evasive prey. However, the
marine environment is characterized by an abundance of evasive prey, such
as Copepods. These organisms sense the hydrodynamic disturbance created by
approaching predators and perform high-acceleration escape maneuvers.
Using a 3D high-speed video system, we characterized the interaction
between Sparus aurata larvae and prey from a natural zooplankton
assemblage that contained evasive prey, and assessed the factors that
determine the outcome of these interactions. 8-33 day post hatching larvae
preferentially attacked large prey that was moving prior to the
initialization of the strike, however feeding success was lower for
larger, more evasive prey. Thus, larvae were challenged in capturing their
preferred prey. Larval feeding success increased with increasing Reynolds
numbers, but decreased sharply when the prey performed an escape maneuver.
The kinematics of successful strikes resulted in a shorter response time
but higher hydrodynamic signature available for the prey, suggesting that
strike success in our experiments was determined by brevity rather than
stealth, i.e. executing a fast strike eliminated a potential escape
response by the prey. Our observations of prey selectivity as it happens,
reveal that larval performance, rather than preferences, determines their
diet during early development.