Feeding ecology of little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus in the central Mediterranean Sea

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 999-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Falautano ◽  
Luca Castriota ◽  
Maria Grazia Finoia ◽  
Franco Andaloro
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Prey Abundance ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Predator Size ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea

The feeding habits of Euthynnus alletteratus and its variations compared to predator size in the central Mediterranean Sea were investigated. The stomach contents of 187 specimens were analysed, ranging from 26.8 to 50.3 cm total length, caught by authorized experimental drift-nets. The difference in food items found in the stomachs was evaluated by occurrence of prey frequency, prey weight, and prey abundance; these criteria were used to calculate an index of relative importance. Fish were the dominant food detected according to all numerical indicators examined and were mainly represented by Maurolicus muelleri and larval stages of teleosts. Hyperiid amphipods, dominated by Anchylomera blossevillei and Phrosina semilunata, were well represented in terms of frequency of occurrence. Variations in the diet composition compared to fish size were observed. Comparative analysis performed on prey abundance highlighted a trend of increasing predator size-classes among prey items. The specimens of the smallest sizes ate mainly adult clupeiforms and larvae or other juvenile teleosts. As fish grew, there were increased amounts of adult teleosts, crustaceans (hyperiids and isopods) and cephalopods. Maurolicus muelleri was the most important prey for the largest specimens analysed. Significant differences among size-classes, both in prey abundance and in prey weight, were confirmed by non-parametric multivariate analysis of variance (NP-MANOVA).

scholarly journals Biological Aspects of Juveniles of the Common Stingray, Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758) (Elasmobranchii, Dasyatidae), from the Central Mediterranean Sea

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
Francesco Tiralongo ◽  
Giuseppina Messina ◽  
Bianca Maria Lombardo
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Ionian Sea ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Disc Width ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea ◽  
The Common ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Index Value

Data on the biology of Dasyatis pastinaca are absent from the Ionian Sea and only a few studies were conducted in the Mediterranean Sea. Some biological and ecological aspects of D. pastinaca were investigated between November 2019 and February 2020 in the central Mediterranean Sea. In particular, we investigated several morphologic, population and ecological aspects of the species. The analysis of the stomach contents showed that D. pastinaca is a generalist carnivorous, mainly feeding on small crustaceans and polychaetes. The Levin’s index value (Bi) was 0.85. The sex ratio showed no significant differences from 1:1 ratio. Females were larger than males, but no statistical differences were found in disc width-weight and total length-disc width relationships between sexes. Most of the specimens caught were juveniles and inhabit shallow sandy bottoms.

Daily ration and feeding activity of juvenile hake in the central Mediterranean Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (7) ◽  
pp. 1493-1501 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Carpentieri ◽  
F. Colloca ◽  
G. Ardizzone
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Daily Ration ◽  
Gastric Evacuation ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Migratory Activity ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea

We investigated daily ration, feeding rhythms and gastric evacuation rates of juvenile (<16 cm total length) European hake Merluccius merluccius, using stomach samples collected during four 24-hour trawl surveys carried out in 2001–2002 on the continental shelf-break (from 120 m to 160 m in depth) off the western coast of central Italy (central Mediterranean Sea). In each survey 8 hauls of 30 minutes were performed every three hours throughout the 24-hour period to cover the entire diel cycle. Diet of juvenile hake was mostly composed of the euphausiid Nyctiphanes couchii, showing a peak in stomach contents during early morning followed by a daytime decrease. Fullness index (%FI) was generally higher during sunrise when migratory activity ceased and juvenile hake return to the bottom after feeding. Concerning the hake abundance the highest density value was obtained in May during the recruitment period.Two independent daily ration estimates were produced. First, an empirical attempt to estimate the daily amount of food consumed was obtained by back-calculating the fresh weight of euphausiid prey ingested by juvenile hake. Estimated values ranged from 4.96–5.89% body wet weight (%BW). Second, the daily ration was computed applying the exponential gastric evacuation models proposed by Elliot & Persson (1978) and Eggers (1979). Daily ration values obtained using these consumption models produced a considerable (15–20%) underestimation of consumption rate for juvenile hake.

scholarly journals Feeding habits of the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (L. 1758), in the central Mediterranean Sea (Strait of Messina)

2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Battaglia ◽  
Franco Andaloro ◽  
Pierpaolo Consoli ◽  
Valentina Esposito ◽  
Danilo Malara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Thunnus Thynnus ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea

Feeding habits of the albacore tuna Thunnus alalunga (Perciformes, Scombridae) from central Mediterranean Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Consoli ◽  
T. Romeo ◽  
P. Battaglia ◽  
L. Castriota ◽  
V. Esposito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Albacore Tuna ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Thunnus Alalunga

record of acanthocybium solandri in the central mediterranean sea, with notes on parasites

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (5) ◽  
pp. 1295-1296
Author(s):  
t. romeo ◽  
e. azzurro ◽  
e. mostarda
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Pacific Waters ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Straits Of Messina

one specimen of wahoo, acanthocybium solandri was caught in june 2004 by artisanal fishermen in the straits of messina, sicily. this epipelagic species has a circum-tropical distribution and in the mediterranean has been recorded only twice. meristic characteristics, gonads and stomach contents were analysed. two species of parasites, the giant trematodes hirudinella ventricosa and the monogenean neothoracocotyle acanthocybii were detected in the stomach and in the gills, respectively. the presence of these helminths, typical of hosts captured in atlantic and pacific waters is consistent with the migration of this specimen via gibraltar.

scholarly journals Diet of the Deep-Sea Shark Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810, in the Mediterranean Sea: What We Know and What We Should Know

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3962
Author(s):  
Claudio D’Iglio ◽  
Serena Savoca ◽  
Paola Rinelli ◽  
Nunziacarla Spanò ◽  
Gioele Capillo
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Trophic Position ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Ontogenetic Development ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Western Basin ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Environment Adaptation ◽  
The Mediterranean

We reviewed literature on the diet of the Galeus melastomus Rafinesque, 1810, from the Mediterranean Sea. Specific keywords (“Galeus melastomus diet”, “feeding habits”, “trophic position”, “biology”, “deep environment adaptation”) in the principal data sources, such as Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were used. Seventeen studies conducted on the diet and trophic position of G. melastomus have been considered for Mediterranean Sea regions. The feeding habits have been analyzed in many areas of the western basin; instead, for the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, and central Mediterranean Seas, information is outdated and fragmentary. In all investigated sub areas, the data showed that G. melastomus is an opportunistic demersal supra benthic predator, benthic feeder, and scavenger, that adapts its diet to the seasonal and geographical fluctuations of the prey availability. It occupies a generalist niche showing individual specialization. In all reviewed Mediterranean sub areas, the most important prey groups were crustaceans, cephalopods, and teleost fishes. Taxa percentage in its diet composition can vary depending on different habitats with ontogenetic development of individuals, depth (that is correlated with the ontogenetic development), seasonal availability, and distribution of different prey groups. Widening knowledge of G. melastomus feeding habits is a fundamental tool for better understand meso and bathy-pelagic ecosystems.

Feeding habits of juvenile fishes belonging to three medusivorous species (Centrolophidae and Nomeidae) from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea)

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 927-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Battaglia ◽  
Simona Musolino ◽  
Valentina Esposito ◽  
Giovanni Ammendolia ◽  
Pierpaolo Consoli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea

Diet of Tetrapturus belone (Istiophoridae) in the central Mediterranean Sea

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Castriota ◽  
Maria Grazia Finoia ◽  
Silvana Campagnuolo ◽  
Teresa Romeo ◽  
Antonio Potoschi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Fast Moving ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Pelagic Fish ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Ecological Role ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
Pelagic Species ◽  
Central Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Active Predator

The stomach contents of 69 Mediterranean spearfish Tetrapturus belone collected in the Strait of Messina, central Mediterranean Sea were examined. Of the total specimens, caught by harpoon, only three stomachs were empty. Their diet consisted mainly of pelagic fish and cephalopods. The most important piscine prey belonged to the families of Belonidae, Clupeidae and Scomberesocidae. Cephalopods were mainly represented by Tremoctopus violaceus in terms of per cent weight and by Illex coindetii in terms of per cent frequency of occurrence. Tetrapturus belone is an active predator on epipelagic fast-moving prey and school-forming species. Its ecological role is similar to that of other large pelagic species which share the same environment.

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.

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