Feeding ecology of black anglerfish Lophius budegassa: seasonal, bathymetric and ontogenetic shifts

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 877-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izaskun Preciado ◽  
Francisco Velasco ◽  
Ignacio Olaso ◽  
Jorge Landa
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Merluccius Merluccius ◽  
Important Prey

The diet of black anglerfish Lophius budegassa is described for the Cantabrian Sea (North Atlantic coast of Spain) from seasonal samples obtained onboard commercial vessels from January 1993 to December 1994. The stomach contents of fish caught on the continental shelf were examined, and differences in the diet in relation to age-class, season and depth were studied. The age-classes were grouped according to a cluster analysis of diet composition. As a result, three groups were obtained: the first two corresponded to juveniles between 2 and 7 years old, and the third one corresponded to adults between 8 and 15 years old. Although Micromesistius poutassou was an important prey for all ages, the youngest black anglerfish fed mainly on small benthic fish. In contrast, large prey species such as Phycis blennoides and Merluccius merluccius were eaten almost exclusively by adults. The diet composition changed during the year. The changes in the diet of black anglerfish older than 3 years were more related to seasonal differences than to between-size differences. These seasonal shifts were mainly marked by the varying importance of Trachurus trachurus and M. merluccius in their diet. Feeding intensity also showed seasonal variations, with a significant decrease in autumn. An indirect effect of depth on the feeding ecology of black anglerfish was also found, since both age and diet composition changed with depth.

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the California Current

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella Preti ◽  
Stephen M. Stohs ◽  
Gerard T. DiNardo ◽  
Camilo Saavedra ◽  
Ken MacKenzie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
California Current ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Dosidicus Gigas ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Jumbo Squid ◽  
Xiphias Gladius

The feeding ecology of broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in the California Current was described based on analysis of stomach contents collected by federal fishery observers aboard commercial drift gillnet boats from 2007 to 2014. Prey were identified to the lowest taxonomic level and diet composition was analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. Of 299 swordfish sampled (74 to 245 cm eye-to-fork length), 292 non-empty stomachs contained remains from 60 prey taxa. Diet consisted mainly of cephalopods but also included epipelagic and mesopelagic teleosts. Jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) and Gonatopsis borealis were the most important prey based on the geometric index of importance. Swordfish diet varied with body size, location and year. Jumbo squid, Gonatus spp. and Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) were more important for larger swordfish, reflecting the ability of larger specimens to catch large prey. Jumbo squid, Gonatus spp. and market squid (Doryteuthis opalescens) were more important in swordfish diet in inshore waters, while G. borealis and Pacific hake predominated offshore. Jumbo squid was more important from 2007-2010 than in 2011-2014, with Pacific hake the most important prey item in the latter period. Diet variation by area and year probably reflects differences in swordfish preference, prey availability, prey distribution, and prey abundance. The range expansion of jumbo squid that occurred during the first decade of this century may particularly explain their prominence in swordfish diet from 2007-2010. Some factors that may influence dietary variation in swordfish were identified. Standardization could make future studies more comparable for conservation monitoring purposes.

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of Serrasalmus gouldingi (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in the lower Anapu River region, Eastern Amazon, Brazil

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno da S. PRUDENTE ◽  
Pedro CARNEIRO-MARINHO ◽  
Roberta de M. VALENTE ◽  
Luciano F. de A. MONTAG
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Flood Pulse ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
High Tendency ◽  
Flood Season ◽  
River Region ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Studies on feeding ecology of fishes are important to understand the relationship between species and environmental seasonal variations. In tropical rivers, these relationships are mainly modeled by hydrological patterns. Thereby, this study aimed to assess the influence of fluviometric variation and life stage (juveniles and adults) in the feeding ecology of Serrasalmus gouldingi in the lower Anapu River region, located in Eastern Amazon, Pará, Brazil. Specimens were collected bimonthly, considering four different hydrological periods. We assessed the diet composition, feeding intensity and niche breadth of the species. Thirty-two dietary items were identified and grouped into ten categories. A total of 279 stomachs were analyzed, showing a predominance of fish fragments, followed by fruits and seeds. The diet composition of S. gouldingi differed only between drought and flood season, although it did not differ between juveniles and adults. An increase in feeding intensity was recorded during the rise in the water level, with a lower feeding intensity observed during transitional season. Serrasalmus gouldingi showed lower niche breadth during flood season, attributed to the high consumption of fruits and seeds, presenting an omnivorous diet with high tendency towards piscivory. Although less evident than in other Amazon watersheds, the flood pulse in the lower Anapu River region is an important factor influencing the feeding ecology of the species.

Feeding of tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucerna (Scorpaeniformes: Triglidae) in the north-east Mediterranean

2011 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Stagioni ◽  
Stefano Montanini ◽  
Maria Vallisneri
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Adriatic Sea ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
East Mediterranean ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Important Prey

The stomach contents of 1096 specimens of Chelidonichthys lucerna were examined in order to analyse their diet composition according to fish size, sex, depth and season. Sampling was carried out from May 2005 to March 2007 during several bottom trawl surveys in the Adriatic Sea (north-east Mediterranean). Feeding activity was more intense in juveniles than in adults. The most important prey was Crustacea (mainly Decapoda: Brachyura, such as Goneplax rhomboides, Liocarcinus spp., Philocheras spp.) and Teleostei (mainly European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and black goby Gobius niger). There was no difference between male and female diet. Feeding habits varied with size, with fish dominating the stomach contents of larger specimens. Finally, fish increased in winter and crustaceans in summer. Chelidonichthys lucerna shows a generalist and opportunistic foraging behaviour, preying mainly epibenthic and nectobenthic organisms.

Feeding and distribution of the bigeye flounder Hippoglossina macrops off Northern Chile

2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 833 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Villarroel ◽  
E. H. Acuña ◽  
M. J. Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Fishing Ground ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Distributional Pattern ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Cephalothorax Length ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Squat Lobsters

Bathymetric distribution and stomach contents of the bigeye flounder captured during November 1995 were analysed. Bathymetric distributional pattern differed among age classes, with younger fish inhabiting shallower waters while older fish occupied all depths sampled. For each sex, the densities were greatest at shallower depths and decreased constantly with depth. Differences in feeding habits with fishing ground, depth and age classes were found. Feeding is characterized by consumption of juvenile squat lobsters Pleuroncodes monodon and Cervimunida johni of 3 mm mean cephalothorax length at 150–300 m depth, and primarily of shrimp Heterocarpus reedi below this range. Young flounders (≤3 years) mainly fed on small prey such as juvenile squat lobsters, whereas flounders >3 years old fed mainly on macrocrustaceans such as H. reedi and to a minor extent on P. monodon and C. johni. Feeding intensity increased with age for each sex, with older females showing a larger food intake rate that was consistent with their higher growth rate in comparison with males.

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of Dash-dot Tetra Hemigrammus belottii(Steindachner 1882) (Characiformes: Characidae) in the streams of the Urucu River basin, central Amazonia, Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Felipe Gomes Gonçalves ◽  
Bruno da Silveira Prudente ◽  
Fernando da Silva Carvalho Filho ◽  
Luciano Fogaça de Assis Montag
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Standard Length ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Central Amazonia

The present study describes aspects of feeding ecology of Dash-dot TetraHemigrammus belottii (Characiformes: Characidae) collected in the Urucu River basin in Coari, Amazonas (Brazil), aims to respond the following question: What is the influence of hydrological periods (dry and wet) and spatial distribution in the diet of H. belottii? The specimens were collected between 2006 and 2009 in seven streams in the Urucu basin using standard capture methods. Their stomachs were removed for diet composition analyses. The alimentary items were weighed and identified for subsequent analyzes related to feeding intensity by repletion index (RI%) and importance by alimentary index (AIi%). A total of 227 specimens were analyzed, with a mean standard length of 16.5±5.6 mm. The RI% values indicated that H. belottii fed more intensively during the dry season. The principal items in the diet were Formicidae (IAi% = 69.6), fragments of allochthonous exoskeleton (IAi% = 17.7), and Coleoptera (IAi% = 6.0). The composition of the diet did not vary significantly between seasons or among habitats, which may be related to the abundance of the items exploited by the species throughout the year. Hemigrammus belottii showed a generalist insectivore feeding habits which was mainly composed by allochthonous item.

Feeding ecology of monkfish Lophius gastrophysus in the south-western Atlantic Ocean

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.F.M. Valentim ◽  
E.P. Caramaschi ◽  
M. Vianna
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Ocean ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Size Class ◽  
The South ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Western Atlantic ◽  
Index Value ◽  
Janeiro State

The diet of the monkfish Lophius gastrophysus is described based on the analysis of stomach contents, for the south-western Atlantic from samples landed in the fishing port of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, from April 2004 to March 2006. Feeding intensity, measured as the presence or absence of contents in stomachs, and differences in the items' composition were analysed by sex, size-class and season. High feeding intensity predominated for females >32 cm and for males <31 cm. There was no seasonal pattern in the occurrence of full or empty stomachs. The most important category in the diet was fish with 25 identified species. Dactylopterus volitans showed the highest alimentary index value, mainly because of the feeding of juvenile monkfish. The second most important category was Mollusca, represented mainly by squid. No relationships between predator- and prey-lengths and weights were observed; but there was a tendency to consume light and small prey independently of the size of the monkfish.

Feeding habits of the bullet tuna Auxis rochei in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 1007-1012 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Mostarda ◽  
D. Campo ◽  
L. Castriota ◽  
V. Esposito ◽  
M.P. Scarabello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Fish Larvae ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Tyrrhenian Sea ◽  
Monthly Basis ◽  
The North ◽  
Important Prey

A total of 235 bullet tunas (Auxis rochei) was caught off the north-eastern coast of Sicily between March 2003 and March 2004 for the purpose of studying their feeding habits. The fish were caught by means of an experimental surface gill-net during fishing surveys carried out on a monthly basis. The stomach contents were analysed and the prey identified, counted and weighed. The importance of the different prey types was assessed utilizing several feeding indices while possible size-related changes of the diet composition were highlighted by means of hierarchical cluster analysis, nMDS and SIMPER analysis. The results of this study showed that the bullet tuna is an epipelagic off-shore predator feeding on whatever abundant resource is available in the environment with a preference for planktonic crustaceans, small cephalopods and fish larvae. Among crustaceans, hyperiidean amphipods were the most important prey, with Anchylomera blossevillei as the dominant species, followed by the euphausiacean Stylocheiron maximum. Among cephalopods, Heteroteuthis dispar was recorded frequently while fish larvae showed high values of all indices. All prey were pelagic organisms. A size-related change in the diet composition was observed, even if it seemed related to the temporal fluctuations of the zooplanktonic assemblage in the environment. The average prey weight per stomach increased significantly in the larger predators which mostly fed on fish larvae belonging to several commercially important demersal and pelagic species.

scholarly journals Diet of Teius oculatus (Sauria, Teiidae) in southern Brazil (Dom Feliciano, Rio Grande do Sul)

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize Helena Cappellari ◽  
Thales de Lema ◽  
Paulo Prates Jr. ◽  
Carlos Frederico Duarte da Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Males And Females

We analyzed stomach contents of 58 specimens of Teius oculatus (D'Orbigny & Bibron, 1837) (20 adult males, 17 adult females and 21 juveniles) captured in Dom Feliciano, RS, Brazil, to evaluate diet composition and sexual and ontogenetic variations in prey consumption. Diet was composed of 15 prey categories, all arthropods. Orthoptera was the most frequent prey type. Quantitatively, termites were the most important prey item (59.5%). There were no significant differences between the diets of adult males and females. Ontogenetic differences were found, mainly concerning volume of prey consumed. Adult lizards ingested significantly larger prey than juveniles (U = 170.00; p < 0.001). Juveniles, although having a comparatively less diverse diet (10 prey types) consumed a larger number of items (45.7% of total). Diet similarity was higher between juveniles and adult males (Ojk = 0.97) and prey diversity was higher in the diet of adult females (H' = 2.65). Based on importance value index the most important item in the diet of T. oculatus was Orthoptera. We conclude that T. oculatus in Dom Feliciano has a relatively generalized diet and it is an opportunist lizard, feeding on arthropods, mainly insects.

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of invasive Perccottus glenii (Perciformes, Odontobutidae) in Slovakia

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 479-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Koščo ◽  
P. Manko ◽  
D. Miklisová ◽  
L. Košuthová
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Perccottus Glenii ◽  
Class Groups ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Lower Size

Stomach contents of 331 specimens of <I>Perccottus glenii (Perciformes: Odontobutidae</I>) were analysed. Chironomids and ephemeropterans dominated the diet of all size classes of fish; however, the frequency of crustaceans was also high. Micro-crustaceans (ostracods, copepods and cladocerans) dominated in lower size classes (20–39 mm); macro-crustaceans <I>(Isopoda, Amphipoda</I>) dominated in higher size classes (up to 79 mm). The proportion of crustaceans decreased from the size class 80–89 mm. With the increasing size of fish the frequency of molluscs (<I>Gastropoda</I>) increased, the maximum was in size class 70–79 mm. Cannibalism occurred from 60 mm, and it was significant from 80 mm. The highly mobile invertebrates (<I>Coleoptera, Heteroptera</I>) were found in the largest size classes. In middle size classes (40–59 mm), the widest spectrum of prey units was documented; the food variability of small (90 mm) individuals was poor. Differences in the diet composition of small individuals were negligible; the diet of the largest ones differed significantly. According to diet, two feeding size class groups were recognised: the first

scholarly journals Feeding ecology of Erythrolamprus jaegeri jaegeri (Günter, 1858) and Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus (Cope, 1860) in the coastal zone of Subtropical Brazil (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)

2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
DANIELE N. CORRÊA ◽  
FERNANDO M. QUINTELA ◽  
DANIEL LOEBMANN
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
Positive Correlations

ABSTRACT The snakes Erythrolamprus jaegeri jaegeri and Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus are sympatric and syntopic in the coastal region of southern Brazil. Herein, we analyzed the diet composition to evaluate the niche breadth and the prey selection by both species. We examined 192 specimens, and analysis of stomach contents revealed that both species predominantly consume anurans. However, the diet of E. j. jaegeri consists mainly of fish and amphibians, whereas that of E. p. sublineatus is broader, including fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The Standardized Levins Index presented lower values for E. j. jaegeri (BA = 0.17) than for E. p. sublineatus (BA = 0.61), evidencing specialist and generalist strategies for each species, respectively. Regarding prey selection, E. p. sublineatus presented a larger snout-vent length, head, mouth and lower jaw than E. j. jaegeri and fed on larger prey. In addition, positive correlations between the size and weight of predators and prey were confirmed in both species. The results show the development of different mechanisms for co-occurrence of the two species, such as prey selection by size, such that the size of the predator is related to the size of their prey, or by developing different strategies to decrease niche overlap between species.

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