Observations on the diet and feeding habits of the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum (Bonnaterre), on Heron Island Reef, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Heupel ◽  
M. B. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Reef Flat ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Epaulette Shark ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Prey Items

The diet and feeding habits of the epaulette shark, Hemiscyllium ocellatum, were investigated through stomach content analysis. Five groups of prey items were found. The index of relative importance showed worms and crabs to be of greatest value at 51.3% and 40.1% respectively. The three minor prey groups were shrimps (7.7%), small fishes (0.7%) and amphipods (0.3%). Epaulette sharks tend to be crepuscular, although feeding bouts may occur at any time. They appear to be opportunistic predators, using olfaction and electroreception in prey capture. This species appears to be an important benthic predator in the reef flat environment on Heron Island Reef.

scholarly journals Food resource utilization of the skates Rioraja agassizii (Müller & Henle, 1841) and Psammobatis extenta (Garman, 1913) on the continental shelf off Ubatuba, South-eastern Brazil

2001 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Y. MUTO ◽  
L. S. H. SOARES ◽  
R. GOITEIN
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Important Food ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Food Resource Utilization

The feeding habits of Rioraja agassizii (syn. Raja agassizii) and Psammobatis extenta (syn. Psammobatis glansdissimilis) of the South-eastern Brazilian coast were studied by means of stomach content analysis. The samples were obtained on eight seasonal oceanographic cruises, carried out between October 1985 and July 1987. The importance of each food item was evaluated on the basis of the Index of Relative Importance and the feeding similarity by Percentage of Similarity. The results indicated that both species are benthic feeders, preying mainly on Crustacea, especially Amphipoda, Caridea and Brachyura. Teleostei were also important for R. agassizii. Seasonal variation of the diet seems to be associated with the availability of the prey, whose distribution and abundance are related to the dynamics of the water masses of the region. Juveniles and adults of P. extenta exploited the same resources while juveniles and adults of R. agassizii presented low diet similarity during most of the year. Caridea were an important food for all length classes of R. agassizii, while Amphipoda were for smaller specimens, and Teleostei for larger ones. The feeding overlap between the two species was higher during autumn 1986, winter 1986 and winter 1987.

Feeding habits ofEucinostomus entomelasandMicropogonias megalopsin Las Guasimas lagoon Gulf of California

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (8) ◽  
pp. 1721-1729
Author(s):  
Dana I. Arizmendi-Rodríguez ◽  
J. López-Martínez ◽  
E. Herrera-Valdivia
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Diet Breadth ◽  
Dark Spot ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Trophic Overlap ◽  
Taxonomic Groups ◽  
Prey Items

The trophic spectrum of bothEucinostomus entomelasandMicropogonias megalops, the two most abundant fish species in Laguna Las Guásimas, Sonora, México is described in our study. A total of 21 types of prey were identified belonging to seven taxonomic groups (Crustacea, Mollusca, Annelida, Rhodophyta, Copepoda, Echinodermata and Chordata) to analyse the feeding spectra and diet breadth. The preferred prey items ofEucinostomus entomelas(Dark-spot mojarra) were Polichaeta (index of relative importance = 46.7%), followed by bivalves(36.6%), andLuidia columbia (5.6%), while those ofMicropogonias megalops(Bigeye croaker) were Portunidae (22.8%) followed by Gammaridae (20.55%) and Crustacea (18.37%). The trophic spectrum for maleE. entomelawas composed of Bivalvia and Polychaeta. Both predators showed low values in diet breadth (E. entomelas(Levin's indexBi = 0.14) andM. megalops(Levins's indexBi = 0.43)). The low trophic overlap (Cλ = 0.14) between predators suggests that both fish are not competing with each other for food resources in Laguna Las Guásimas.

Feeding habits of wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) in the eastern Pacific Ocean

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 1505-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molker Mendoza-ávila ◽  
Gabriela Zavala-Zambrano ◽  
Felipe Galván-Magaña ◽  
Peggy Loor-Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Eastern Pacific Ocean ◽  
Dosidicus Gigas ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Specific Index ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance

Stomach content analysis was used to assess the feeding habits of Acanthocybium solandri based on samples obtained on purse seine fishing trips off the Pacific coasts of Central and South America. A total of 226 samples were obtained; 160 stomachs contained food and 33 prey taxa were identified. Based on the Prey Specific Index of Relative Importance (%PSIRI), cephalopods and fishes were the main prey groups (50.4 and 49.5% PSIRI). Dosidicus gigas (23.4% PSIRI), Stenoteuthis oualaniensis (9.9% PSIRI) and Argonauta spp. (9.4% PSIRI) were the most representative prey. Acanthocybium solandri is a generalist predator based on the results of the Amundsen analysis and niche breadth (Ba = 1).

scholarly journals Spatial and seasonal changes in the diet of Oligosarcus hepsetus (Characiformes, Characidae) in a Brazilian Reservoir

2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. G Araújo ◽  
C. C Andrade ◽  
R. N Santos ◽  
A. F. G. N Santos ◽  
L. N Santos
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Dietary Shifts ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Previous Autumn ◽  
Very High

We assessed spatial and seasonal changes in the diet of Oligosarcus hepsetus in order to describe the strategy developed by this species that allows their very high abundance in Lajes reservoir, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fish samplings were carried out using gill nets, deployed during ca. 12 and 24 hours, between April 2001 and May 2002. A total of 289 individuals were examined, of which 97 showed gut contents. We used the index of relative importance (IRI) to compare probable dietary shifts, and the frequency of occurrence (% OC) to analyze possible ontogenetic influences on feeding. O. hepsetus showed carnivorous habits, feeding preferably on fish and insects, the latter of which occurred in 71.0% of the guts presenting contents. O. hepsetus consumed different items along the three reservoir zones: insects (61.0% IRI) and Cichla monoculus (38.9% IRI) in the lower zone; Lepidoptera (57.0% IRI) in the middle zone; and C. monoculus (77.0% IRI) in the upper zone. Food items changed seasonally with C. monoculus predominating in autumn 2001, and Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera in the winter. In spring almost all food was Lepidoptera (99.8% IRI), while in the summer Hemiptera dominated in the diet. In autumn 2002 Hemiptera (97.0% IRI) was dominant, in significant contrast with the previous autumn. Individuals smaller than 190 mm SL fed heavily on insects, while fishes predominated in the diet of individuals larger than 190 mm SL. Shifts in prey-capture ability among length classes suggest decreasing intraspecific competition. A higher food plasticity seems to be the strategy employed by this opportunist species, which used food resources available in the reservoir.

scholarly journals Feeding habits of the Cichlid Chromidotilapia guntheri (Sauvage, 1882) in some hydrosystems of Ivory Coast

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Charles Koffi BOUSSOU ◽  
Gustave N’guessan ALIKO ◽  
Mexmin Koffi KONAN ◽  
Felix Koffi KONAN
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Stomach Content ◽  
Ivory Coast ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Feeding Habit ◽  
Ontogenetic Shift ◽  
It Practices

The feeding habit of Chromidotilapia guntheri was investigated in seven hydrosystems of Ivory Coast. The contents of 156 non-empty stomachs were examined from specimens caught in the rivers Soumié, Eholié, Noé, Ehania and Banco, the Bea rill and the Kpoda lake. Diets composition, feeding strategy and trophic niche width were analyzed among hydrosystems. Stomach content analysis indicated that C. guntheri feeds preferentially on plants and insects debris and secondarily, it consumed insects’ larvae, nymphs and adults in all habitats. This species would be an omnivorous with a detritivorous tendency. As feeding strategy, it practices a generalist strategy even if some individuals displayed specialization intentions on insects at different stages of metamorphosis. Investigations on ontogenetic shift revealed that juveniles and adults of C. guntheri consume substantially the same types of prey with varying amounts depending on the size of the fish. However there is a significant decrease in the proportions of gastropods and oligochaetes ingested when growing.

scholarly journals Feeding habits of Aspitrigla cuculus (L., 1758) (red gurnard), Lepidotrigla cavillone (Lac., 1802) (large scale gurnard) and Trigloporus lastoviza (Brunn., 1768) (rock gurnard) around Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands (E. Mediterranean)

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. TERRATS ◽  
G. PETRAKIS ◽  
C. PAPACONSTANTINOU
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Bottom Trawling ◽  
Percentage Frequency ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance

The feeding habits of the three most abundant gurnard species, red gurnard (Aspitrigla cuculus), large scale gurnard (Lepidotrigla cavillone) and rock gurnard (Trigloporus lastoviza) in the eastern Mediterranean (Dodecanese and Cyclades, Greece) are examined. The stomach contents of the gurnard specimens collected in April and September 1996 by bottom trawling were analyzed. The % frequency of occurrence, % number and % weight of prey types in the stomach contents were evaluated. By weight, Mysidacea and Decapoda dominated in the diet of the three species in both seasons, however the Index of Relative Importance, as well as the percentage frequency of occurrence varied. Rock gurnard presented the most diverse diet whereas the diet of large scale and red gurnard were more specialized. High overlap in terms of number was found between rock and large scale gurnard in May. Rock gurnard had the most divers diet in both seasons.

scholarly journals Aspectos da alimentação natural de Larimus breviceps Cuvier, 1830, proveniente do litoral norte da Paraíba, Brasil

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (52) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Andreza Da Silva Nascimento ◽  
Jonas De Assis Almeida Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Marine Debris ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Synthetic Material ◽  
Fish Feeding ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance ◽  
Social Importance

<p>The knowledge of natural fish feeding is important to understand the species feeding habits and how they interact with the environment. In addition to that, this kind of research can provide relevant data to improve the capture of these animals, considering their economy and social importance. This study aimed to analyze the food composition of Larimus breviceps specimens from the northern coast of Cabedelo city, evaluating the importance of each food item for their diet. The specimens came from the local artisanal fisheries. In laboratory, the individuals were identified, measured and dissected to remove the stomachs content and then examined. Three different analyzes were performed, percentage by frequency of occurrence, by number and by weight, then the index of relative importance (IRI%) was computed. In total, 30 stomachs were analyzed, 15 distinct food items were identified, the most representative prey were fish fragments, Copepoda, Gammaridae, Decapoda (shrimp), algal fragments and synthetic material. Given the results, the diet of this species becomes more diversified as young individuals reach the adults size, and ingest marine debris which indicates an anthropogenic impact.</p>

Feeding of the least, crested, and parakeet auklets around St. Lawrence Island, Alaska

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1025-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Bédard
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Feeding Apparatus ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
Aethia Cristatella ◽  
Prey Items

The feeding habits of three plankton-feeding Alcidae, the least, crested, and parakeet auklets were studied on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, between 1964 and 1966. The crested and the least auklets (Aethia cristatella, A. pusilla) exhibit similar patterns of dependence upon the food resources: both have, during early summer, a diversified diet consisting of mysids, hyperiids, gammarids, etc., but restrict themselves largely to one principal prey during the chick-rearing period. Then, A. pusilla eats mostly Calanus sp. while A. cristatella eats Thysanoessa spp. In all years, hatching coincided closely with the appearance of these prey items (copepods and euphausids) in the environment and it is argued that the timing of the auklets' breeding season has been adjusted to their cyclical abundance. Cyclorrhynchus psittacula, the parakeet auklet, maintains a diversified diet throughout the summer: Parathemisto libellula, a pelagic amphipod, is the dominant prey in its diet.The three species are found feeding together and are presumed to use the same depth range. Segregation in feeding between A. cristatella and A. pusilla is achieved by difference in bill size. This difference is sufficient to impose obligatory feeding upon different resources. Segregation between two possible competitors, A. cristatella and Cyclorrhynchus, seems to rest upon innate preferences for different prey types, minor structural differences in the feeding apparatus, and differences in foraging habits: the relative importance of each of these factors remains to be established.As a whole, the amount of overlap in feeding between the three species studied is very small.

STOMACH CONTENT ANALYSIS OF SOME SELECTED FISH SPECIES FROM GILIMA RIVER, TAURA LOCAL GOVERNMENT, JIGAWA STATE, NIGERIA.

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-459
Author(s):  
Auwalu Haruna
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Stomach Content ◽  
Oreochromis Niloticus ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Content Analysis ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Plant Materials ◽  
Dietary Preference ◽  
Lates Niloticus ◽  
Food And Feeding

Four hundred (400) samples comprising eighty (80) samples each from five different species of Oreochromis niloticus, Bagrus bayad, Lates niloticus, Hydrocynus brevis and Synodontis vermiculatus were collected in batches using gill nets from 24th March -16th September, 2014; food and feeding habits were then assessed by analyzing the stomach content. The samples ranged in size from 525cm total length and 4.745g in weight. The stomach content analysis using frequency of occurrence method revealed that Oreochromis niloticus were herbivorous with dietary preference for plants and plant materials (47.27%), detritus (23.21%) and unidentifiable materials (6.06%), Bagrus bayad as carnivorous with dietary preference for fishes (52.17%), insects (23.57%), detritus (7.50%), Lates niloticus were also carnivorous with fishes (62.00%), fish parts (31.30%), insects (4.6%), Hydrocynus brevis proved carnivorous with dietary preference for fishes (42.16%), fish parts (17.83%), and Synodontis vermiculatus as an omnivore with dietary preference of plant materials (18.71%), fishes (12.69%), insect (12.19%) and detritus (17.48%).

Feeding ecology of the southern thorny skate,Amblyraja doellojuradoion the Argentine Continental Shelf

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 2207-2216 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.E. Delpiani ◽  
M.C. Spath ◽  
D.E. Figueroa
Keyword(s):  
Continental Shelf ◽  
Generalized Linear Models ◽  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Benthic Fauna ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
The North ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance

The feeding ecology of the southern thorny skate,Amblyraja doellojuradoi, on the Argentine Continental Shelf was evaluated using generalized linear models.Amblyraja doellojuradoipreyed mainly on crabs (85.41% index of relative importance (IRI)) and to a lesser extent on polychaetes (4.98% IRI), teleosts (3.28% IRI), isopods (2.03% IRI), other crustaceans (1.52% IRI) and other invertebrates (2.78% IRI). As individuals increased in size, the consumption of crabs also increased and the consumption of polychaetes and other invertebrates decreased. The study area was divided into a northern (36°–43°S) and a southern (43°–50°S) region. Regarding the latitude of capture, it was observed thatA. doellojuradoimainly fed on crabs in the north and on fish, isopods and other crustaceans in the south. Females ofA. doellojuradoihad a stronger preference for fish and isopods than males. As to sexual maturity, immatures fed more on polychaetes and other crustaceans than did mature. The ontogenetic change in feeding habits could be attributed to body size and an increasing ability to capture larger prey, rather than to food availability. However, this point cannot be confirmed because little is known about the benthic fauna of this area.

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