Food and feeding habits ofCaranx crysosfrom the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (7) ◽  
pp. 1375-1380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayda Sley ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouain

The diet of blue runnerCaranx crysos(Carangidae) in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Mediterranean) is described from analysis of stomach contents (N = 1668 fish). The majority of samples were obtained from commercial purse seine and gill-net catches. The index of vacuity (%VI) was relatively high (58.7%) and differed significantly across months. Blue runner is an opportunistic predator that consumes mostly pelagic organisms, with benthic prey representing only a small proportion of the diet. The diet was quantified using the frequency of occurrence (%F), numerical abundance (%N), weight (%W) and the index of relative importance (IRI and %IRI) for each prey taxa.The most important prey categories were teleosts (%IRI = 83.4) and crustaceans (%IRI = 16.6), with molluscs only observed occasionally (%IRI < 0.1). Fish were also the dominant food items in both terms of weight (89.60%) and frequency of occurrence (82.44%). In terms of numerical abundance, crustaceans were the most abundant prey (78.07%). Ontogenetic and seasonal differences in the diet were observed, although there was no difference between the diets of males and females.

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1229-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayda Sley ◽  
Aymen Hadj Taieb ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouain

The diet of greater amberjackSeriola dumerili(Carangidae) in the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia, Mediterranean) was described from analysis of stomach contents of 290 specimens fished between June 2004 and May 2006. The index of vacuity (%VI) was relatively low (37.9%) and differed significantly across size classes.Seriola dumeriliis an opportunistic predator that consumes mostly pelagic organisms; benthic prey were also examined in small proportion. The diet was quantified using the frequency of occurrence (%O), numerical abundance (%N), weight (%W) and the index of relative importance (IRI and %IRI) for each prey taxa. The most important prey were teleosts (%IRI = 99.61); molluscs and crustaceans were found occasionally (%IRI, 0.38 and 0.01%, respectively). Among teleosts, Clupeidae were also the dominant food items in number (%N = 36.06%) and then in frequency of occurrence (%O = 36.7%). In term of weight, Sparidae were the most abundant prey (%W = 36.5%). There is no significant difference between male and female diets. Seasonal differences in the diet components were observed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (7) ◽  
pp. 1491-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Ben Hadj Hamida ◽  
Olfa Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Hechmi Missaoui

The diet and feeding habits of the striped seabream, Lithognathus mormyrus, from the Gulf of Gabes were investigated by examining the stomach contents of 1221 specimens ranging from 9.7 cm to 24.1 cm total length (and 11.2 g to 158.1 g in weight). Specimens were collected from commercial catches between September 2005 and August 2007. Of the total number of examined stomachs, 1115 were empty (Index of vacuity = 91.3%). This percentage varied significantly over the year, attaining a maximum in winter (95.77%) and summer (95.79%) and, a minimum in autumn (82.25%). Eight higher taxonomic groups were identified (teleosts, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, annelids, spongia and plantae). Crustaceans were the most important prey taxa, constituting 84.6% of the total IRI. Other taxa, such as teleosts, and molluscs were of secondary importance. Significant differences in the diet were observed in relation to season. The estimated trophic level was 3.63 ± 0.59 for the whole population of L. mormyrus of the Gulf of Gabes. Based on the composition of its diet, this species may be considered to be an omnivorous fish with a preference for animal material and showed a specialist feeding strategy.


Author(s):  
AMANI CHAFFAI ◽  
WAFA RJIBA-BAHRI ◽  
ASMA ABIDI ◽  
FRANҪOISE DENIS ◽  
JAMILA BEN SOUISSI

Feeding habits of the invasive spider crab Libinia dubia from the Mediterranean Sea were studied in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia) using the frequency of occurrence and points methods. The population was sampled at least monthly between November 2015 and October 2016. Stomach contents of 384 specimens were analysed. Results indicate that L. dubia is an herbivorous species exhibiting clear preferences for algae (ALG) and Magnoliophyta (MAG) (62.03%, 7.13 points and 59.36%, 5.3 points respectively) although Echinodermata (ECH), Porifera (POR), Cnidaria (CNI), Mollusca (MOL), Polychaeta (POL), Crustacea (CRU) and fish (FIS) were accidentally consumed along with Bryozoa (BRY), sediment (SED), and unidentifiable materials (UNM). The diversity of ALG ingested was studied in detail: Chlorophyceae were found in 87.93% of stomachs containing ALG and contributed most of points to the stomach contents (4.18 points) followed respectively by Phaeophyceae (81.03%, 2.27 points) and Rhodophyceae (40.95%, 0.68 points).Very low Vacuity Index was recorded (VI = 2.6%). Ingested items varied significantly with regard to the season (Chi-square test, χ2calculated = 87.86 > χ2theoretical = 7.81, df = 3, p < 0.05) and crab size (χ2calculated = 14.25 > χ2theoretical = 5.99, df = 2, p = 0.026). Insignificant differences were registered by studying Carapace Width-Stomach Weight (CW-SW) relationships (T-test, tcalculated < ttheoretical, p > 0.05). Kruskal-Wallis test was applied so that the composition of crab diet among groups could be compared (H = 1.1, df = 3, p = 0.77). 


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1509-1516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasna Kadri ◽  
Sondes Marouani ◽  
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouaïn

Food and feeding strategy of the thornback ray, Raja clavata, were studied from stomach contents analysis of specimens caught monthly in the Gulf of Gabes. The data were analysed according to sex, size and season. At total of 1280 stomachs was examined, from specimens ranging from 14 to 110 cm total length (TL), of which 1076 (83.98%) contained food. Thornback ray feed mainly on teleosts, crustaceans and cephalopods, whereas gastropods and polychaetes are occasionally consumed. Significant differences were found between the diets of males and females; however, ontogenetic changes were also detected, with crustaceans constituting the greatest proportion of the diet of smaller rays. Both teleosts and cephalopods increased in importance with growth of the skates. Prey diversity increased with size; large and mobile prey species were more commonly found in the diet of larger skates. Diet composition showed seasonal variations. Quantitative analyses and graphical methods indicate that the thornback ray is a generalist feeder.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-155
Author(s):  
Olusola Olaniyi KOMOLAFE ◽  
Timothy Olalekan AMOO ◽  
Michael Olufemi AWODIRAN

The food and feeding habits of the redbelly Tilapia (Tilapia zillii) and Guenther’s mouthbrooder (Chromidotilapia guntheri) were investigated in an abandoned gold mine reservoir at Igun from June 2013 to May 2014. Using a cast net and gill-net fishing gears, 370 fish individuals were caught and their stomach contents were analysed by using the frequency of occurrence and numerical methods. Tilapia zillii comprised 53.78% (199 individuals), while Chromidotilapia guntheri covered up the remaining percentage (46.22%) which is made up of 171 individuals. Food items in the stomachs of T. zillii individuals predominantly consisted of detritus, mud and algae (77.97%), while those in C. guntheri individuals mostly consisted fish remains, detritus and algae (81.67%). T. zillii exploited more food items (23 of 27) as compared to C. guntheri (17 of 27). The Schoener’s index value for the species was 0.65. The study showed that T. zillii and C. guntheri exhibited benthopelagic exploitation and are mainly herbivorous and omnivorous respectively based on the food items observed in the stomach contents of these species. The fish species fed on related food items as confirmed by Schoener’s overlap index (0.65), suggesting that there was overlap in the dietary requirements of the two species. This index value, however, was probably not an indication of competition for food between these two species because they exploited abundant food sources.


2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 2257-2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houda Chaouch ◽  
Olfa Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Othman Jarboui

The diet and feeding habits of the sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo, from the Gulf of Gabès were investigated using stomach contents of 490 specimens ranging from 12.6 cm to 26.1 cm total length in size and from 29.95 g to 230.83 g in weight collected from commercial catches between April 2008 and March 2009. Of the total number of examined stomachs, 279 were empty (%VI = 56.94). This percentage varied significantly with months, attaining a maximum in spring (74.88%) and a minimum in autumn (37.38%). Eight major taxa were identified (Plantae, Spongia, Tunicata, Echinodermata, Crustacea, Annelida, Mollusca and Teleostei) in stomach contents of D. puntazzo. Plants were the most important food source, constituting 89.88% of the total Index of relative importance. The other groups, such as teleosts, molluscs, crustaceans and annelids represented accessory food. Significant differences in diet were observed in relation to season. Plants were the most important food source item in all seasons, especially during the autumn. The estimation of trophic level gave an average of 2.57 ± 0.2 for the whole population of D. puntazzo in the Gulf of Gabès. Based on the composition of its diet, this species may be considered as an omnivorous fish with a preference for vegetable material, and showing specialist feeding strategy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-74
Author(s):  
W. O. ABDUL ◽  
I. T. OMONIYI ◽  
A. O. AGBON ◽  
F. I. ADEOSUN ◽  
O. S. OLOWE ◽  
...  

The food and feeding habits of eight (8) fish species Elops lacerta, Chrysichthys auratus, Schilbe mys-tus, Sardinella maderensis, Synodontis schall, Hepsetus odoe, Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus in Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria were studied and estimated for six months, between February and July, 2014. A total of 470 fishes were randomly collected from the commercial fishermen during the study. Results from the stomach contents analysed using frequency of occurrence and numerical methods showed that S. mystus, E. lacerta, S. maderensis, H. odoe, S. schall, T. zillii, M. cephalus and C. auratus were predators, piscivores, herbivores, piscivores, omnivores, herbivores, herbivores and omnivores respectively while H. odoe and S.mystus partly fed on E. lacerta and T. zillii respec-tively. The Diet Breadth (D) ranged from 0.76 to 0.88 and the percentage Gut Repletion Index (GRI), a reflection of frequency of feeding, ranged between 60-100%.


Author(s):  
Ayda Sley ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouain

From June 2004 to May 2006, 1040 Caranx rhonchus (Carangidae) ranging from 6.5 to 30.6 cm in total length (TL), fished in the Gulf of Gabes (south Tunisia, central Mediterranean), were used to investigate feeding habits of the species. This study was based mainly on the evolution of the index of relative importance (IRI) with respect to sex, fish size and season. Among 1040 stomachs examined, 595 were empty (%VI = 57.2). The vacuity index (%VI) differed significantly across months and declined slightly with season. A total of 13 species representing 12 different families belonging to four major groups: teleosts, crustaceans, molluscs and annelids, were identified in stomach contents of Caranx rhonchus.Caranx rhonchus is primarily an opportunistic piscivorous fish with a diet characterized by a wide range of species. Teleosts occurred in the majority of stomachs, with a total of the relative importance (%IRI) of 52.7%. The anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus were the most important teleost species (%IRI = 11.2), while crustaceans were the second most important food category consumed (47.1%).There were no significant differences in the diet between males and females, but significant differences were found with season and among size-classes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 939-945
Author(s):  
Tiehoua Kone ◽  
◽  
Irene Kessia Fokouo Kouakou ◽  
Vincent Kadjo ◽  
Konan Nda ◽  
...  

Mugil cephalus is a permanent and abundant fish species in coastal, estuarine or lagoon ecosystems. This species was sampled in the lagoon of Grand-Lahou (Cote dIvoire) for the study of its diet and its feeding ethology. Stomachs were removed and their contents identified using identification keys to determine the diet. 88 specimens of M. cephalus were examined for food and feeding habits. 42 (47.72%) of the fish had empty stomach. Analysis of stomach contents showed that phytoplankton is the most consumed with a numerical percentage of occurrence of 94.98% (Cyanobacteria, Chlorophytes, Diatoms) and a percentage of occurrence is 64.9%. The proportion of zooplankton is 4.98% (cladocerans, copepods, foraminifera, rotifers and nematodes) according to the numerical percentage and 18.77% according to the frequency of occurrence. Detritus has an occurrence percentage of 8.43 %. Diet is mainly composed of diatom.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta J. Cremer ◽  
Pedro C. Pinheiro ◽  
Paulo C. Simões-Lopes

The present study provides information about the diet of sympatric populations of small cetaceans in the Babitonga Bay estuary. This is the first study on the diet of these species in direct sympatry. The stomach contents of seven Guiana dolphins Sotalia guianensis and eight franciscanas Pontoporia blainvillei were analyzed. The prey of both cetaceans was mostly teleost fishes, followed by cephalopods. We identified 13 teleost fishes as part of the diet of the franciscanas, and 20 as part of the diet of Guiana dolphins. Lolliguncula brevis was the only cephalopod recorded, and was the most important prey for both cetaceans. Stellifer rastrifer and Gobionellus oceanicus were also important for franciscana, so as Mugil curema and Micropogonias furnieri were important for Guiana dolphins. Stellifer rastrifer and Cetengraulis edentulus were the fishes with the highest frequency of occurrence for franciscana (50%), while Achirus lineatus, C. edentulus, S. brasiliensis, Cynoscion leiarchus, M. furnieri, M. curema, Diapterus rhombeus, Eugerres brasilianus and G. oceanicus showed 28.6% of frequency of occurrence for Guiana dolphins. Franciscanas captured greater cephalopods than the Guiana dolphins in both total length (z= -3.38; n= 40; p< 0.05) and biomass (z = -2.46; n = 40; p<0.05). All of the prey species identified occur inside the estuary, which represents a safe habitat against predators and food availability, reinforcing the importance of the Babitonga Bay for these cetacean populations.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document