Fish Otoliths in Cetacean Stomachs and Their Importance in Interpreting Feeding Habits

1968 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2561-2574 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Fitch ◽  
Robert L. Brownell Jr.
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Food Studies ◽  
Delphinus Delphis ◽  
Lagenorhynchus Obliquidens ◽  
Stenella Longirostris ◽  
Fish Otoliths

The stomachs of 17 cetaceans of seven species (3 Kogia simus, 5 Stenella longirostris, 3 S. graffmani, 2 Lagenorhynchus obliquidens, 2 Delphinus delphis, 1 Lissodelphis borealis, and 1 Phocoena sinus) yielded 18,164 fish otoliths representing over 51 species, 40 genera, and 22 families. Lanternfish (family Myctophidae) otoliths accounted for more than 89% of the total, and they had come from at least 19 species belonging to nine genera. Only two fish species could have been identified if we had not been able to utilize otoliths. To be useful in food studies involving otoliths, cetacean stomachs cannot be placed in formalin solutions, even for short periods.The kinds and diversity of species preyed upon by several of these cetaceans indicate that they routinely forage in depths of 650–800 ft (200–250 m), and a few such as Kogia simus may descend to 1000 ft (300 m) or deeper.

scholarly journals Cadmium Uptake and Relationship to Feeding Habits of Freshwater Fish from the Ayeyarwady River, Mandalay, Myanmar

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (26) ◽  
pp. 200608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khin Myint Mar
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
International Standards ◽  
World Health ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Catla Catla ◽  
Cadmium Content ◽  
Flame Atomic Absorption ◽  
Wallago Attu ◽  
Fish Samples

Background. Pollution of the aquatic ecosystem by heavy metals is increasing due to anthropogenic activities. Cadmium (Cd) can accumulate in soil, be taken up by plants, and passed on in the food chain to animals and humans. Objectives. The present study was conducted to analyze the uptake of Cd in muscles of sampled fish with different feeding habits and to compare levels of Cd in fish from the Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar with international standards. Methods. The acid digestion procedure was used for sample preparation. Cadmium concentrations in fish samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Perkin Elmer AAanalyst 800 and Winlab-32 software). Results. In herbivorous fish species, Cd content ranged from 0.07 ( Catla catla ) to 0.086 mg/kg ( Osteobrama belangeri ). In carnivorous fish species, Cd ranged from 0.060 ( Mystus leucophasis ) to 0.083 mg/kg ( Wallago attu ). In omnivorous fish species, Cd ranged from 0.07 ( Botia histrionica ) to 0.084 mg/kg ( Gudusia variegata ). Cadmium content did not differ significantly across the three types of feeding habits (p>0.05). Discussion. The accumulation of Cd in the muscle of studied fish was lower than the permissible limit set down by the European Union in 2001 (0.1 ppm), but above the limits set down by the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization, European Commission (0.05 ppm) and within the limit of United States Food and Drug Administration (0.01–0.21 ppm). The data obtained in the present study indicate that levels of Cd were not significantly different across fish species with different feeding habits. Conclusions. The examined fish samples were not fully safe for human consumption due to high levels of Cd. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

scholarly journals Human pharmaceuticals in three major fish species from the Uruguay River (South America) with different feeding habits

2019 ◽  
Vol 252 ◽  
pp. 146-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Rojo ◽  
D. Álvarez-Muñoz ◽  
A. Dománico ◽  
R. Foti ◽  
S. Rodriguez-Mozaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South America ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Uruguay River

scholarly journals Diet and feeding of fish from Grande River, located below the Volta Grande Reservoir, MG-SP

2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Andrade ◽  
F. M. S. Braga
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Aquatic Macrophytes ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Tropical Fish ◽  
Volume Number ◽  
Classic Model ◽  
Common Basis ◽  
Pimelodus Maculatus

We compare the classic model of feeding of tropical fish by means of six bimonthly samplings using gillnets of varying mesh sizes that were inspected every twelve hours throughout a forty-eight hour period. The stomachs of the fish caught were classified in three categories according to quantity of food found. The amount of fat in the visceral cavity with respect to the energetic reserve deposition was also studied. The relative frequencies of the different categories of stomach repletion and fat deposition were examined for patterns of feeding seasonality. The stomachs considered full were examined to record diet composition. To assess the relative importance of the different food resources, we applied Feeding Importance Degree (FID), which is a useful index when difficulties exist in determining a common basis for volume, number, or weight of a given food item in different species, a common problem when dealing with fish species having different feeding habits. The fish species whose stomach contents were analyzed using the FID index were Serrasalmus spilopleura (Characidae), L. prolixa (Loricaridae), Schizodon nasutus (Anostomidae), and Pimelodus maculatus (Pimelodidae). Our findings indicate some contrasting elements , in dietary composition in relation to the classic model for tropical rivers. These factors include the importance of aquatic macrophytes, the lack of piscivorous species, and a lesser presence of allochthonous vegetation in the diet of the species studied.

scholarly journals Cooking process evaluation on mercury content in fish

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Aparecida Farias ◽  
Déborah Inês Fávaro ◽  
José Osman Santos ◽  
Marina Beatriz Vasconsellos ◽  
Artemiza Pessôa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Total Mercury ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Mercury Content ◽  
Herbivorous Fish ◽  
Nutritional Evaluation ◽  
Cooking Process ◽  
Roasting Process ◽  
Total Hg

This study evaluated different cooking processes (roasted, cooked and fried) on total mercury (Hg) content in fish species most consumed by Manaus residents and surrounding communities, Amazon region. The results obtained for total Hg in natura and after the three types of preparation (roasted, cooked and fried) for 12 fish species showed a significant Hg concentration variation. In the present study the cooked and frying processes resulted in higher Hg losses for Pacu, Pescada, Jaraqui, Curimatã, Surubin and Aruanã fish species, most of them presenting detritivorous and carnivorous feeding habits. The higher Hg losses in the roasting process occurred for Sardinha, Aracu, Tucunaré, Pirapitinga, Branquinha and Tambaqui fish species, most of them being omnivorous and herbivorous fish species. Some micronutrients (Ca, Fe, K, Na, Se and Zn) in fish species in natura were also determined in order to perform a nutritional evaluation regarding these micronutrients.

scholarly journals Aquatic macrophytes as feeding site for small fishes in the Rosana Reservoir, Paranapanema River, Southeastern Brazil

2003 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Casatti ◽  
H. F. Mendes ◽  
K. M. Ferreira
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Aquatic Macrophytes ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Food Competition ◽  
Field Trips ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Fish Ecology ◽  
Feeding Site ◽  
Blue Green Algae

In the present investigation we studied the feeding habits of the fishes associated with aquatic macrophytes in the Rosana Reservoir, southeastern Brazil. Twenty fish species were collected during four field trips, regularly distributed across the dry and wet seasons. Focal snorkeling observations of the fishes were made over a total of six hours. Nine species were present in abundances of more than 1% and, therefore, had their feeding habits analyzed. Hemigrammus marginatus, Roeboides paranensis, Hyphessobrycon eques, Astyanax altiparanae, Serrasalmus spilopleura, and Bryconamericus stramineus were predominantly invertivores, with predominance of aquatic insects (Diptera, Ephemeroptera, and Trichoptera immatures) among their food items. The predominantly algivores were Apareiodon affinis, Serrapinnus notomelas, and Satanoperca pappaterra, with high frequency of filamentous blue-green algae, diatoms, clorophyts, and periderm. The different microhabitat exploitation plus diet composition suggests partitioning of resources and absence of food competition among the most representative fish species in the studied community, indicating the importance of the naturalistic approach to fish ecology studies.

scholarly journals Feeding habits of Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, from south-eastern Brazil: new items and a knowledge review

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (8) ◽  
pp. 1723-1733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xênia Moreira Lopes ◽  
Ednilson da Silva ◽  
Manuela Bassoi ◽  
Roberta Aguiar dos Santos ◽  
Marcos César de Oliveira Santos
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Estuarine Waters ◽  
Sotalia Guianensis ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Cephalopod Species ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Important Fish

This study presents new information on feeding habits of Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, in south-eastern Brazil, together with new regression equations to evaluate the weight and length of fish from otoliths, showing an overview on the knowledge about this species’ diet in this area. Eighteen stomach contents had been analysed and compared to 180 samples collected in another eight feeding studies. The analysed specimens were either incidentally caught in gillnets used in coastal waters by the fleet based in the Cananéia main harbour (25°00′S 47°55′W), south of São Paulo State, or found dead in inner waters of the Cananéia estuary between 2003 and 2009. Based on the index of relative importance analysis, the most important fish species were the banded croaker, Paralonchurus brasiliensis. Doryteuthis plei was the most representative cephalopod species. Stellifer rastrifer was the most important fish species observed in dolphins in inner estuarine waters and P. brasiliensis in recovered dolphins from coastal waters. Loliguncula brevis is the only cephalopod species reported from dolphins found in inner estuarine waters up to date. Doryteuthis plei was the most important cephalopod species observed in coastal dolphins. When considering other feeding studies, the most representative fish family in the diet of S. guianensis was Sciaenidae, which is mainly represented by demersal fishes. The main preys of S. guianensis are abundant in the studied areas, which may indicate an opportunistic feeding habit. The majority of them are not the most important target species by the commercial fishery in south-eastern Brazil.

Influence of host diet and phylogeny on parasite sharing by fish in a diverse tropical floodplain

Parasitology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. LIMA ◽  
S. BELLAY ◽  
H. C. GIACOMINI ◽  
A. ISAAC ◽  
D. P. LIMA-JUNIOR
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystem ◽  
Fish Diet ◽  
Ecosystem Structure ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Host Diet ◽  
Ecological Importance

SUMMARYThe patterns of parasite sharing among hosts have important implications for ecosystem structure and functioning, and are influenced by several ecological and evolutionary factors associated with both hosts and parasites. Here we evaluated the influence of fish diet and phylogenetic relatedness on the pattern of infection by parasites with contrasting life history strategies in a freshwater ecosystem of key ecological importance in South America. The studied network of interactions included 52 fish species, which consumed 58 food types and were infected with 303 parasite taxa. Our results show that both diet and evolutionary history of hosts significantly explained parasite sharing; phylogenetically close fish species and/or species sharing food types tend to share more parasites. However, the effect of diet was observed only for endoparasites in contrast to ectoparasites. These results are consistent with the different life history strategies and selective pressures imposed on these groups: endoparasites are in general acquired via ingestion by their intermediate hosts, whereas ectoparasites actively seek and attach to the gills, body surface or nostrils of its sole host, thus not depending directly on its feeding habits.

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