Some Biological and Morphological Aspects for Coptodon Zillii(Gervais, 1848) Inhabiting at Al- Tharthar Arm-Tigris River North of Baghdad,Iraq

Somebiological aspects and morphological for Coptodon zillii inhabiting at Al-Tharthar Arm-Tigris River were studied during the period from April to September 2016. The growth pattern was positive allometric with (b) values for males 3.392, females 3.192, and for combined sexes 3.30. Condition factor values were lower than one and increased with size rangesbetween1.265and1.984 with an average of 1.665for combined sexes.Fish considered as herbivorous, six food items found in the diet, filament algae was the most important food item that occupied 57.84% of the diet, followed by plants particles' and their seeds 27.08% and organic materials 12.38%. The percentage of food items by both methods differed between sexes. The research cover, the ratios of each of twenty morphometric measurements to total length, and each of four morphometric measurements to head length and their linear regression equations. All the length-length relationships between standard length and the others measurements were highly correlated.

The Silent Forest: Impact of Bird Hunting by Prehistoric Polynesians on the Decline and Disappearance of Native Avifauna in Hawai’i

This research focuses on the historical demise of Hawaiian avifauna due to hunting by ancient Polynesians. Numerous documents, published since the early 1800s, were scrutinized and evaluated; these provided information on bird hunting and traditional Hawaiian practices. Hawaiians used birds as sources of feathers and food. Feathers were important symbols of power for Polynesians; in Hawai’i, feathers were more highly prized than other types of property. Feathers used for crafts were obtained from at least 24 bird species, however, the golden feathers of ‘ō‘ō and mamo birds made them primary targets for birdhunters; both birds became extinct by the late 1800s. Feathers were utilized for many items, including ‘ahu‘ula [cloaks], mahiole [war helmets], and kāhili [standards]. Most garments utilized a considerable number of feathers; a cloak for Kamehameha consumed the golden feathers of 80,000 mamo birds. Bird meat was an important food item for native Hawaiians. It is believed that most birds were killed after being plucked; historical sources mention ~30 bird species were consumed. The ‘ua‘u (Pterodroma sandwichensis), a currently endangered seabird, was ruthlessly hunted and avidly eaten. Its current geographical range is just a minute fraction of its former one; now, ‘ua‘us are largely restricted to inaccessible cliffs at Haleakalā Crater (Maui).

From carrion to Christmas beetles: the broad dietary niche of the red fox in a hybrid coastal ecosystem in south-eastern Queensland

The diet of the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was investigated through analysis of 1185 scats collected between 2010 and 2014 from coastal south-east Queensland, Australia. By both frequency of occurrence and volume, its diet was dominated by terrestrial arthropods, marine arthropods, vegetation and birds, although the remains of the short-tailed shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris) consumed as carrion dominated the latter. Terrestrial arthropods, primarily insects of the order Coleoptera, were eaten all year (61% frequency of occurrence, FO) but varied seasonally (35–67%FO), mostly due to the consumption of large numbers of Christmas beetles (Anoplognathus spp.) in the summer months. Marine arthropods consisted almost entirely of ghost crabs (Ocypode spp.) and seasonal variation in consumption was evident (33–72%FO) and likely correlated with ghost crab abundance. Fruit and berries were an important food item for foxes all year but also varied seasonally (30–65%FO). The opportunistic diet of this fox population is discussed in the context of dietary differences, but common opportunism, reported in other Australian and overseas studies.

Feeding ecology of three sympatric species of stingrays on a tropical mudflat

Periodic fish ingressions into intertidal areas during high tide are known to occur on tropical mudflats. This study aimed to elucidate the feeding ground function of coastal mudflats for three common stingray species in the Klang Strait, Malaysia. Stingrays (disc width range from 5.65–54.50 cm) sampled over 17 months using a large barrier net (~2 ha enclosure) at two sampling sites were examined for their diet composition, prey frequency and prey volume according to predator species and maturity. The index of relative importance and Schoener's index of diet overlap were calculated. The three stingray species fed on relatively similar prey items which varied in size and contribution. Brevitrygon heterura fed on the widest range of prey taxa (28) whereas Hemitrygon bennetti (22) and Telatrygon biasa (17) showed higher prey specialization. The Penaeidae (dominantly Metapenaeus brevicornis and M. affinis) were the most important food item in the stingray diet which also included Actinopterygii, Amphipoda, Brachyura and Calanoida. The stingray diet showed an ontogenetic shift, with young stingrays tending to be generalists whereas the more mature stingrays (except H. bennetti) become more specialized in their feeding habits. This shift in feeding strategy reflects the diversity of prey taxa abundantly available to young stingrays on the mudflats, while the larger stingrays adapt to feed on larger prey once they enter deeper waters.

Diet of the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) in Belize, Central America

Belize contains important habitat for Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) and provides refuge for the highest known population density of this subspecies. As these animals face impending threats, knowledge of their dietary habits can be used to interpret resource utilization. The contents of 13 mouth, six digestive tract (stomach, duodenum and colon) and 124 faecal samples were microscopically examined using a modified point technique detection protocol to identify key plant species consumed by manatees at two important aggregation sites in Belize: Southern Lagoon and the Drowned Cayes. Overall, 15 different items were identified in samples from manatees in Belize. Five species of seagrasses (Halodule wrightii, Thalassia testudinum, Ruppia maritima, Syringodium filiformeandHalophilasp.) made up the highest percentage of items. The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) was also identified as an important food item. Algae (Ulvasp.,Charasp.,Lyngbyasp.) and invertebrates (sponges and diatoms) were also consumed. Variation in the percentage of seagrasses, other vascular plants and algae consumption was analysed as a 4-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) with main effects and interactions for locality, sex, size classification and season. While sex and season did not influence diet composition, differences for locality and size classification were observed. These results suggest that analysis of diet composition of Antillean manatees may help to determine critical habitat and use of associated food resources which, in turn, can be used to aid conservation efforts in Belize.

Abundance of Plankton Population Densities in Relation to Bottom Soil Textural Types in Aquaculture Ponds

Plankton is an important food item of fishes and indicator for the productivity of a water body. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of bottom soil textural conditions on abundance of plankton in aquaculture pond. The experiment was carried out using three treatments, i.e., ponds bottom with sandy loam (T1), with loam (T2) and with clay loam (T3). The ranges of water quality parameters analyzed were suitable for the growth of plankton during the experimental period. Similarly, chemical properties of soil were also within suitable ranges and every parameter showed higher ranges in T2. A total 20 genera of phytoplankton were recorded belonged to Chlorophyceae (7), Cyanophyceae (5), Bacillariophyceae (5), Euglenophyceae (2) and Dinophyceae (1). On the other hand, total 13 genera of zooplankton were recorded belonged to Crustacea (7) and Rotifera (6). The highest ranges of phytoplankton and zooplankton densities were found in T2 where low to mediumtype bloom was observed during the study period. Consequently, the mean abundance of plankton (phytoplankton and zooplankton) density was significantly highest in T2. The highest abundance of plankton in the T2 indicated that pond bottom with loamy soil is suitable for the growth and production of plankton in aquaculture ponds. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v2i1.14006 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 2 (1): 56-61, June, 2012

PARTICIPAÇÃO COMUNITÁRIA NA PRESERVAÇÃO DE PRAIAS PARA REPRODUÇÃO DE QUELÔNIOS NA RESERVA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL MAMIRAUÁ, AMAZONAS, BRASIL

At Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, river turtles are exploited by local traditional populations for decades. The nadequate use of this resource caused a striking decrease of the natural populations. Podocnemis expansa was the most affected species, followed by P. unifilis and P. sextuberculata. As a consequence, environmental authoryties introduced legal regulation, asm means to protect the most exploited species. At Mamirauá Reserve, the first step tow ards the participation of local population in the preservation of turtles was taken at the IV General Assembly of Mamirauá, where representatives of the nine sectors of villages that make Mamirauá Focal Area listed nesting beaches, and each sector selected at least one of them to be fully protected. In 1998 were recorded 272 nests at Horizonte beach: 261 of P. sextuberculata, 5 of P. unifilis and 6 of P. expansa; at Pirapucu beach 306 nests were recorded: 298 of P. sextuberculata and 8 of P. unifilis. Community participation can provide not only local political support, and lower costs for garding and enforcement of conservation rules, but also assures preservation of várzea biodiversity and maintenance of an important food item of local importance.

Diet of Iheringichthys labrosus (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) in the Ibicuí River, Southern Brazil

The diet of the benthic-feeding fish Iheringichthys labrosus (Lütken, 1874) was analyzed. Samples were taken bimonthly from December 1999 to January 2002, in three sites of the Ibicuí River, a tributary of Uruguay River basin (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). In each sampling point the specimens were collected in lentic and lotic environments. Gillnets and trammel nets were examined every 6 hours (6h, 12h, 18h and 24h). Diet description was based on the frequency of occurrence and the volume of each food item to obtain the Alimentary Index (IAi). The average stomach fullness was adopted to detect variations in the feeding activity according to the season, the circadian rhythm and the environment. Chironomids were the most important food item, followed by mollusks, and feeding activity was highest in summer, during daylight (6h and 12h), and in the lotic environment of the second sampling point.