scholarly journals Diet and foraging of the endemic lizard Cnemidophorus littoralis (Squamata, Teiidae) in the restinga de Jurubatiba, Macaé, RJ

2006 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 803-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. A. Menezes ◽  
V. C. Amaral ◽  
M. V. Sluys ◽  
C. F. D. Rocha
Keyword(s):  
Adult Male ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Morphological Variables ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Active Forager ◽  
Hemidactylus Mabouia ◽  
Prey Items

We investigated the diet and foraging of the endemic teiid lizard Cnemidophorus littoralis in a restinga habitat in Jurubatiba, Macaé - RJ. The stomach contents were removed, analyzed and identified to the Order level. There was no relationship between C. littoralis morphological variables and number, length or volume of preys. Termites (48.7%) and larvae (35.5%) were the most important prey items which occurred in the examined lizards´ stomachs. The diet did not differ between males and females. Cnemidophorus littoralis is an active forager and predominantly consumes relatively sedentary prey or prey that is aggregated in the environment. We also found an intact and undigested hatchling of the crepuscular/nocturnal gekkonid lizard Hemidactylus mabouia in the stomach of an adult male of C. littoralis, which indicates that C. littoralis is a potential source of mortality for individuals of H. mabouia in the restinga de Jurubatiba.

Feeding habits of the sandskate Psammobatis extenta (Garman, 1913): sources of variation in dietary composition

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Matías Braccini ◽  
Jorge E. Perez
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Dietary Composition ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Prey Diversity ◽  
Sources Of Variation ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Prey Items

Understanding the variation in the diet of skates is crucial for determining their roles in marine ecosystems. The diet of 458 sandskates, Psammobatis extenta, from Puerto Quequén, Argentina was quantified to determine whether there was geographical, sexual, ontogenetic, and/or seasonal variation in dietary composition. Cumulative prey-diversity curves reached a stable level at ~30 stomachs and thus the sample size was large enough to describe the overall diet of the sandskate. The diet comprised a variety of small invertebrates, suggesting that the sandskate is a secondary consumer (trophic level of 3.5). The most important prey items were gammarids, shrimps and, to a lesser extent, polychaete worms. A significant correlation was found between the diets of sandskates from south-eastern Brazil and Puerto Quequén, suggesting that in both locations they used similar resources and would have similar ecological roles. No difference was found between the diets of males and females, but ontogenetic and seasonal patterns were detected. Small sandskates preyed largely on gammarids and shrimps but consumed fewer polychaetes and brachyurans than larger individuals. In summer and winter, the most important prey item by number was gammarids, whereas the consumption of shrimps peaked in autumn. This ontogenetic and seasonal pattern indicates that large and small sandskates are versatile predators that can shift their diets in response to prey abundance.

scholarly journals Diet of Chiasmocleis cordeiroi Caramaschi and Pimenta, 2003 from the Atlantic Rainforest in southern Bahia, Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (30) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
Indira Maria Castro ◽  
Caio Vinícius de Mira-Mendes ◽  
Mirco Solé
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Foraging Strategy ◽  
The State ◽  
Atlantic Rainforest ◽  
Prey Category ◽  
Taxonomic Level ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Southern Bahia ◽  
Prey Items

We studied the diet of a Chiasmocleis cordeiroi population in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Frogs were collected at night after an explosive breeding event and were transferred to the lab where they were measured, weighed and had their stomach contents retrieved following a stomach flushing protocol. Individuals were later released back into the pond from which they had been collected. Stomach contents were measured and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. The most important prey category in the diet of C. cordeiroi was Hymenoptera (Formicidae), as has been already observed for other microhylids. The large number of prey items in the stomach and the low niche amplitude suggest that C. cordeiroi is a specialist using an active foraging strategy to detect its prey.

Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) diet variability off Cabo San Lucas, B.C.S., Mexico during El Niño–La Niña events

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 1513-1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofía Ortega Garcia ◽  
Dana I. Arizmendi-Rodríguez ◽  
Marcela S. Zúñiga-Flores
Keyword(s):  
Annual Variation ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Diet Breadth ◽  
Dosidicus Gigas ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Jumbo Squid ◽  
Diet Variability ◽  
Analysis Of Similarity ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Prey Items

The stomach contents of 1261 striped marlins caught from 2007 to 2010 by the sport-fishing fleet of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico, were analysed, taking into account sea surface temperatures estimated using satellite images of the study area and the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI). The analysis allowed the identification of three anomalously cold periods during 2007, 2008 and 2010 and a warm period in 2009. The stomach content results showed 89 different prey items eaten during the study period. Of the specimens captured, 868 (69%) stomachs contained food items. The most important prey items were cephalopods (Dosidicus gigas and Argonauta spp.) and fish (Scomber japonicus, Selar crumenophthalmus and Sardinops caeruleus). Despite having a broad trophic spectrum, the striped marlin was classified as a specialist consumer, with Bi = 0.03. Based on the diet breadth value and the prey-specific index of relative importance (PSIRI), the jumbo squid, D. gigas, was the main prey species, coinciding with cold periods. On the other hand, the fishes S. caeruleus and S. japonicus showed the highest PSIRI values during the 2009 warm anomalies. Analysis of similarity showed the formation of four groups in relation to PSIRI values. According to a non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination, these groups were formed with a similarity of 30% and a stress of 0.17. These results demonstrate inter-annual variation in the diet as well as in the availability and abundance of prey items.

scholarly journals Intraspecific variation in the diet of the Mexican garter snakeThamnophis eques

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e4036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Manjarrez ◽  
Martha Pacheco-Tinoco ◽  
Crystian S. Venegas-Barrera
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Prey Items

The Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques)is a terrestrial-aquatic generalist that feeds on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. We describe size-related variation and sexual variation in the diet ofT. equesthrough analysis of 262 samples of identifiable stomach contents in snakes from 23 locations on the Mexican Plateau. The snakeT. equeswe studied consumed mostly fish, followed in lesser amounts by leeches, earthworms, frogs, and tadpoles. Correspondence analysis suggested that the frequency of consumption of various prey items differed between the categories of age but not between sex of snakes, and the general pattern was a reduction of prey item diversity with size of snake. Snake length was correlated positively with mass of ingested prey. Large snakes consumed large prey and continued to consume smaller prey. In general, no differences were found between the prey taxa of male and female snakes, although males ate two times more tadpoles than females. Males and females did not differ in the mass of leeches, earthworms, fishes, frogs and tadpoles that they ate, and males and females that ate each prey taxon were similar in length. We discuss proximate and functional determinants of diet and suggest that the observed intraspecific variation inT. equescould be explored by temporal variation in prey availability, proportions of snake size classes and possible sexual dimorphism in head traits and prey dimensions to assess the role of intersexual resource competition.

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.

Stomach contents of small cetaceans stranded along the Sea of Oman and Arabian Sea coasts of the Sultanate of Oman

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (8) ◽  
pp. 1699-1710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa S. Ponnampalam ◽  
Tim J.Q. Collins ◽  
Gianna Minton ◽  
Isabelle Schulz ◽  
Howard Gray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
Fish Family ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Conservation Implications ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Spinner Dolphins ◽  
Prey Items

This study examined the stomach contents of 11 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.), five Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and two spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) that were found stranded along the Omani coastline. Across the three species examined, a total of 4796 fish otoliths and 214 cephalopod beaks were found, representing at least 33 species in 22 families. Prey item importance was calculated using the percentage by number and percentage by frequency of occurrence methods, and a modified index of relative importance. The fish families Apogonidae, Carangidae and Scombridae were the most numerically important prey of the bottlenose dolphins. Sciaenidae was the most numerically important fish family for the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. The myctophid Benthosema pterotum formed the majority of the prey items of spinner dolphins. Cephalopod remains found in the stomach samples were represented by the families Sepiidae, Loliginidae and Onychoteuthidae. The known depth distribution of prey items of bottlenose dolphins indicated that the animals fed in a wide variety of habitats. Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin prey items indicated feeding in shallow coastal areas. Spinner dolphins appear to have exploited the upper 200 m of the water column for food, where their vertically migrating mesopelagic prey are found at night. Most prey species found in the stomach contents do not appear to be of current commercial importance in Oman. However, the findings here indicated that all three species of dolphins were feeding in areas where artisanal and/or commercial fishing occurs and has conservation implications.

scholarly journals Changes in prey importance and prey niche overlap of sexes during the alpine newt breeding season

2020 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oldřich Kopecký
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Sexual Differences ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Quantitative Composition ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Alpine Newt ◽  
Prey Items

Urodeles, including European newts, are usually sexually dimorphic predators. Among newts, the alpine newt has the most pronounced sexual size dimorphism (in favour of females). Gender is a factor that is often associated with intra-specific diet differences. Despite the significant number of dietary studies on the alpine newt, some topics such as the breadth of the trophic niche and its overlap between sexes, or inter-sexual differences in qualitative and quantitative composition of prey remain unresolved. The present study dealing with these questions was conducted at two localities (ponds at an elevation of about 450 m) in the Czech Republic. Newts were captured from the banks during the entire breeding season using a dip net, and the stomach contents were extracted using a stomach flushing technique. Altogether 190 individuals were sampled, and a total of 1,417 prey items were obtained. The available food sources differed over the course of the breeding season, as newts changed the taxa they preyed on. This reflects the ability of newts to switch between several hunting strategies. The overall food niche overlap between the sexes was relatively large (C = 0.761, resp. C = 0.797). Inter-sexual differences were detected at both localities, mainly in the number of prey items consumed from the most important prey categories such as Rana eggs or Isopoda, which were consumed in higher numbers by females. The findings of this study suggest that females are more sensitive to the trade-off between energy intake and expenditure during the breeding season.

scholarly journals Intraspecific variation in the diet of the Mexican garter snake Thamnophis eques

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Manjarrez ◽  
Martha Pacheco-Tinoco ◽  
Crystian S Venegas-Barrera
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Garter Snake ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Prey Items

The Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques) is a terrestrial-aquatic generalist because it feeds on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. We describe size-related variation and slight sexual variation in the diet of Thamnophis eques through analysis of 262 samples of identifiable stomach contents in snakes from 23 locations on the Mexican Plateau. The Mexican Garter Snakes we studied ate prey items mostly fish, followed in lesser amounts, respectively, by leeches, earthworms, frogs, and tadpoles. Correspondence analysis suggested that the frequency of consumption of various prey items differed between the categories of age and sex of snakes, and the general pattern was a reduction of prey item diversity with size of snake. Snake length was correlated positively with mass of ingested prey. Large snakes consumed large prey and continued to consume smaller prey. In general, no differences were found between the prey taxa of male and female snakes, although males ate two times more tadpoles than females. Males and females did not differ in the mass of leeches, earthworms, fishes, frogs and tadpoles that they ate, and males and females that ate each prey taxon were similar in length. We discuss proximate and functional determinants of diet and suggest that the observed intraspecific variation in Mexican Garter Snakes could be explored by temporal variation in prey availability, proportions of snake size classes and possible sexual dimorphism in head traits and prey dimensions to assess the role of intersexual resource competition.

scholarly journals Intraspecific variation in the diet of the Mexican garter snake Thamnophis eques

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Manjarrez ◽  
Martha Pacheco-Tinoco ◽  
Crystian S Venegas-Barrera
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Garter Snake ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Prey Items

The Mexican Garter Snake (Thamnophis eques) is a terrestrial-aquatic generalist because it feeds on both aquatic and terrestrial prey. We describe size-related variation and slight sexual variation in the diet of Thamnophis eques through analysis of 262 samples of identifiable stomach contents in snakes from 23 locations on the Mexican Plateau. The Mexican Garter Snakes we studied ate prey items mostly fish, followed in lesser amounts, respectively, by leeches, earthworms, frogs, and tadpoles. Correspondence analysis suggested that the frequency of consumption of various prey items differed between the categories of age and sex of snakes, and the general pattern was a reduction of prey item diversity with size of snake. Snake length was correlated positively with mass of ingested prey. Large snakes consumed large prey and continued to consume smaller prey. In general, no differences were found between the prey taxa of male and female snakes, although males ate two times more tadpoles than females. Males and females did not differ in the mass of leeches, earthworms, fishes, frogs and tadpoles that they ate, and males and females that ate each prey taxon were similar in length. We discuss proximate and functional determinants of diet and suggest that the observed intraspecific variation in Mexican Garter Snakes could be explored by temporal variation in prey availability, proportions of snake size classes and possible sexual dimorphism in head traits and prey dimensions to assess the role of intersexual resource competition.

scholarly journals Feeding habits of oriental sole (Brachirus orientalis) on the Bushehr coast of the Persian Gulf

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-185
Author(s):  
Dima Alghada ◽  
Yazdan Keivany ◽  
Fatemeh Paykan-Heyrati
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Persian Gulf ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Persian Gulf ◽  
Prey Items

AbstractThe feeding habits of oriental sole, Brachirus orientalis (Bloch & Schneider) were investigated using 300 male and female specimens collected from coastal waters of Bushehr Province (Persian Gulf) between June 2015 and July 2016. The total length of females and males ranged from 16.2 to 38.5 cm and 14.1 to 29.1 cm, respectively. Of the total number of stomachs examined, 225 were empty (vacuity index = 77%). This index varied significantly over the year (P < 0.05), with maximum values in April and September and minimum in October and May. The B. orientalis diet was composed of nine prey species belonging to five classes. The most important prey items were Crustacea and Mollusca (Bivalvia and Gastropoda). Diet composition showed little seasonal variation, and Crustacea, Bivalvia, and Gastropoda were the most important prey items in all seasons. Sex did not appear to have any significant effects on dietary composition, and the main prey items were consumed by both males and females (P > 0.05).

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document