Feeding ecology of the piked spurdog Squalus megalops (Chondrichthyes: Squalidae) in the Gulf of Gabès (central Mediterranean Sea)

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Sondes Marouani ◽  
Hasna Kadri ◽  
Sami Karaa ◽  
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Three Factor

The present study investigated the feeding ecology of the piked spurdog (Squalus megalops) in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia) with regard to sex, size class and season. A study of stomach contents from the 630 individuals examined showed that the species consumed teleosts (percentage index of relative importance (%IRI)=80.32), cephalopods (%IRI=11.96) and crustaceans (%IRI=7.68). A three-factor multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) demonstrated significant differences in diet related to size, season and sex. Trophic position analysis revealed that S. megalops is a secondary consumer throughout its life. Quantitative analysis indicated that the species is a generalist feeder with an ontogenetic change in preferred prey from crustaceans to teleosts. The niche breadths of S. megalops in both sexes were broad.

Diet composition and food habits of Caranx rhonchus (Carangidae) from the Gulf of Gabes (central Mediterranean)

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 831-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayda Sley ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouain
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Piscivorous Fish ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
South Tunisia

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.

Diet and feeding strategy of thornback ray, Raja clavata (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia—Central Mediterranean Sea)

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1509-1516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasna Kadri ◽  
Sondes Marouani ◽  
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouaïn
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Ontogenetic Changes ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Thornback Ray ◽  
Raja Clavata ◽  
Food And Feeding ◽  
Quantitative Analyses

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.

Diet composition and food habits of Diplodus puntazzo (Sparidae) from the Gulf of Gabès (Central Mediterranean)

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 2257-2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Houda Chaouch ◽  
Olfa Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Othman Jarboui
Keyword(s):  
Food Source ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Important Food ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Diplodus Puntazzo ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Important Food Source

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.

Feeding behaviour of greater amberjackSeriola dumerili(Risso, 1810) from Central Mediterranean (Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia)

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1229-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayda Sley ◽  
Aymen Hadj Taieb ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Mohamed Ghorbel ◽  
Abderrahmen Bouain
Keyword(s):  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Seriola Dumerili ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Opportunistic Predator ◽  
Greater Amberjack

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.

scholarly journals Diet of the rasptail skate, Rostroraja velezi (Rajiformes: Rajidae), off Piura, Peru

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Molina-Salgado ◽  
Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto ◽  
Adriana González-Pestana
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Peruvian Coast ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Specific Index ◽  
Northern Peru ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance

Batoids are among the least studied group of vertebrates and one of the most vulnerable to fishing. The rasptail skate, Rostroraja velezi, is a bycatch species in northern Peru for which there are no studies on its diet. This research aims to document the diet of R. velezi on the northern Peruvian coast and to determine if there are sex-based differences in the diet. A total of 74 R. velezi stomachs were collected, 59 of which had stomach contents. The cumulative prey curve showed reliability in the number of samples collected. According to the prey-specific index of relative importance, diet was dominated by Acanthephyra sp. (31%), other unidentified Caridea (15%), and unidentified teleosts (17%). A low significant difference in diet between sexes was found (R = 0.21, P < 0.01). The trophic position of R. velezi was 3.9 ± 0.7. This species displays bentopelagic feeding behavior and it is a secondary predator in northern Peru.

Diet composition and feeding habits of Lithognathus mormyrus (Sparidae) from the Gulf of Gabes (Central Mediterranean)

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (7) ◽  
pp. 1491-1498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Ben Hadj Hamida ◽  
Olfa Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida ◽  
Othman Jarboui ◽  
Hechmi Missaoui
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Lithognathus Mormyrus

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.

First data on the age, growth and sexual maturity of the piked spurdog, Squalus megalops (Chondrichthyes: Squalidae), in the Gulf of Gabès (central Mediterranean Sea)

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sondes Marouani ◽  
Hasna Kadri ◽  
Mohamed Nejmeddine Bradai
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Band Formation ◽  
Mortality Estimation ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Males And Females

The occurrence of the piked spurdog (Squalus megalops) in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, central Mediterranean Sea) was recently confirmed. The present study is the first to report the age, growth, longevity, natural mortality and size and age at maturity of this species in the Mediterranean Sea, precisely in the Gulf of Gabès. Marginal increment and edge analysis suggested annual band formation. Age estimates ranged from 0 to 26 and from 0 to 29 years for males and females respectively. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters derived from length-at-age data were: the theoretical asymptotic length L∞=82.31±1.55cm, the growth-rate coefficient k=0.06±0.003 years–1, the theoretical age at length zero t0=–3.89±0.25 years for females; and L∞=68.55±0.98cm, k=0.08±0.003 years–1, t0=–4.65±0.25 years for males. Males and females reached maturity at 44.36- and 56.41-cm total length, corresponding to 8.39 and 15.38 years respectively. Longevity estimates were 32.85 and 46.11 years for males and females respectively. On the basis of life-history parameters, natural mortality estimation M ranged from 0.14 to 0.17.

scholarly journals Trophic habits of the invasive crab Libinia dubia H. Milne Edwards, 1834 from the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
AMANI CHAFFAI ◽  
WAFA RJIBA-BAHRI ◽  
ASMA ABIDI ◽  
FRANҪOISE DENIS ◽  
JAMILA BEN SOUISSI
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Carapace Width ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Spider Crab ◽  
Gulf Of Gabes ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Gulf Of Gabès ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Herbivorous Species ◽  
Stomach Weight

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). 

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