Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:32:35.362Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2015

Nader Ben Hadj Hamida ,
Olfa Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida ,
Othman Jarboui  and
Hechmi Missaoui
Nader Ben Hadj Hamida*
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), P.O. BOX 1035 – 3018 Sfax, Tunisia
Olfa Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), P.O. BOX 1035 – 3018 Sfax, Tunisia
Othman Jarboui
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), P.O. BOX 1035 – 3018 Sfax, Tunisia
Hechmi Missaoui
Affiliation:
Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT), 43 avenue Charles Nicolle 1082 – Tunis-Mahrajène, Tunisia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to:N. Ben Hadj Hamida, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM), P.O. BOX 1035 – 3018 Sfax, Tunisia email: naderhadj@yahoo.fr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

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.

Keywords

feeding habitsLithognathus mormyrusGulf of GabesCentral Mediterranean
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 96 , Issue 7 , November 2016 , pp. 1491 - 1498
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Amundsen, P.A., Gabler, H.M. and Staldvik, F.J. (1996) A new approach to graphical analysis of feeding strategy from stomach contents data – modification of the Costello (1990) method. Journal of Fish Biology 48, 607–614.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bachok, Z., Mansor, M.I. and Noordin, R.M. (2004) Diet composition and feeding habits of demersal and pelagic marine fishes from Terengganu waters, east coast of peninsular Malaysia. NAGA Worldfish Center Quarterly, Malaysia 27, 3–4.Google Scholar
Badalamenti, F., D'Anna, G., Fazio, M., Gristina, M. and Lipari, R. (1992) Relazioni trofiche tra quattro specie ittiche catturate su differenti substrati nel Golfo di Castellamare (Sicilia N/O). Biologia Marina Mediterranea 1, 145–150.Google Scholar
Bauchot, M.L. and Hureau, J.C. (1986) Sparidae. In Whitehead, P.J.P., Bauchot, M.L., Hureau, J.C., Nielsen, J. and Tortonese, E. (eds) Fishes of the Northeastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Volume 2. Paris: UNESCO, pp. 883–907.Google Scholar
Bowman, R.E. and Bowman, E.W. (1980) Diurnal variation in the feeding intensity and catchability of silver hake (Merluccius bilinearis). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37, 1565–1572.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradai, M.N. (2000) Diversité du peuplement ichtyque et contribution à la connaissance des Sparidés du golfe de Gabès . PhD thesis. Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Tunisia.Google Scholar
Bradai, M.N. (2010) Tunisian fish fauna and the global warming. Rapport de la Commission Internationale de la Mer Méditerranée 39, 1 p.Google Scholar
Bradai, M.N., Ghorbel, M., Jarboui, O. and Bouaïn, A. (1998a) Régime alimentaire de Spondyliosoma cantharus, Diplodus puntazzo et Diplodus vulgaris (Téléosteens, Sparidae) dans le golfe de Gabès, Tunisie. Rapport de la Commission Internationale de la Mer Méditerranée 35, 380–381.Google Scholar
Bradai, M.N., Jarboui, O., Ghorbel, M., Bouaïn, A. and El Abed, A. (1998b) Régime alimentaire de Diplodus annularis et de Lithognathus mormorys (Teleostei, Sparidae) dans la région du golfe de Gabès. Bulletin de l'Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer 4, 12–15.Google Scholar
Caragitsou, E. and Papaconstantinou, C. (1998) Feeding habits of red Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) off the western coast of Greece. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 4, 14–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chaouch, H., Ben Abdallah-Ben Hadj Hamida, O., Ghorbel, M. and Jarboui, O. (2014) Feeding habits of the annular seabream, Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces: Sparidae), in the Gulf of Gabes (Central Mediterranean). Cahiers de Biologie Marine 55, 13–19.Google Scholar
Chemmam-Abdelkader, B. (2004) Les Dentés (Poissons, Sparidés) des côtes tunisiennes: Etude éco-biologique et dynamique des populations . PhD thesis. University of Tunis, Tunisia.Google Scholar
Chessa, L.A., Lanera, P., Pais, A., Plastina, N., Scardi, M., Serra, S., Valiente, M.L. and Vinci, D. (2005) Aspetti del regime alimentare di Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) nello stagno di Calich (Sardegna Nord Occidentale) [Observations on feeding habits of Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Calich lagoon (North western Sardinia)]. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 12, 492–495.Google Scholar
Costello, M.J. (1990) Predator feeding strategy and prey importance: a new graphical analysis. Journal of Fish Biology 36, 261–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DGPA (2011) Annuaire des statistiques des pêches de Direction Générale de la pêche et de l'Aquaculture (DGPA). Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Ressources Hydrauliques et de la Pêche (Tunisie). 135 ppGoogle Scholar
Fabi, G., Manoukian, S. and Spagnolo, A. (2006) Feeding behaviour of three common fishes at an Artificial Reef in the northern Adriatic Sea. Bulletin of Marine Science 78, 39–56.Google Scholar
Fischer, W., Bauchot, M.L. and Schneider, M. (1987a) Fiches de la FAO d'identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche. (Révision 1). Méditerranée et Mer Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Volume. I. Végétaux et Invertébrés. Volume 2. Rome: FAO, pp. 1–760.Google Scholar
Fischer, W., Bauchot, M.L. and Schneider, M. (1987b) Fiches de la FAO d'identification des espèces pour les besoins de la pêche. (Révision 1). Méditerranée et Mer Noire. Zone de pêche 37. Volume. II. Vertébrés. Volume 2. Rome: FAO, pp. 761–1530.Google Scholar
Froese, R. and Pauly, D. (2000) Concepts, design and data sources. Los Baños, Philippines: ICLARM, 344 pp.Google Scholar
Froglia, C. (1977) Feeding of Lithognathus mormyrus (L.) in central Adriatic Sea (Pisces, Sparidae). Rapports de la Commission Internationale de la Mer Méditerranée 24, 94–95.Google Scholar
Ghorbel, M. and Bouaïn, A. (1991) Régime alimentaire du pageot commun Pagellus erythrinus du golfe de Gabès (Tunisie). Bulletin de l'Institut National Scientifique et Technique d'Océanographie et de Pêche Salammbô 18, 39–54.Google Scholar
Hacunda, J.S. (1981) Trophic relationships among demersal fishes in coastal area of the Gulf of Maine. Fishery Bulletin 79, 775–788.Google Scholar
Hadj Taieb, A., Derbali, A., Ghorbel, M., Ben Hadj Hamida, N. and Jarboui, O. (2013) Variation of diet composition of Diplodus vulgaris (Sparidae) from the Gulf of Gabes (central Mediterranean). Vie et Milieu 63(1), 53–58.Google Scholar
Hajji, F. (2012) Étude écobiologique de trois espèces de Gobiidae: Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, Gobius niger et Gobius paganellus dans le golfe de Gabès . PhD thesis. Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Tunisia, 206 pp.Google Scholar
Harchouche, K., Maurin, C. and Quéro, J.C. (2005) Inventaire des proies ingérées par le marbré Lithognathus mormyrus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces: Perciformes: Sparidae) dans la baie d'Alger et d'Annaba. Annales de la Société des Sciences Naturelles de la Charente-Maritime 9, 491–502.Google Scholar
Jardas, I. (1985) The feeding of juvenile striped sea bream, Lithognathus mormyrus (L., 1758) (Pisces: Sparidae). Rapports de la Commission Internationale de la Mer Méditerranée 29, 107–108.Google Scholar
Kallianiotis, A., Torre, M. and Argyra, A. (2005) Age, growth, mortality, reproduction and feeding habits of striped seabream, Lithognathus mormyrus (Pisces: Sparidae), in the coastal waters of the Thracian Sea, Greece. Scientia Marina 69, 391–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kara, M., Derbal, F. and Chaoui, L. (1997) Régime alimentaire de deux Sparidae du golfe d'Annaba: Diplodus sargus et Lithognathus mormyrus. Données préliminaires. Journée d’étude Océan. Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene d'Alger 59. 85 pp.Google Scholar
Lopèz-Peralta, R.H. and Arcila, C.A.T. (2002) Diet composition of fish species from southern continental shelf of Columbia. NAGA, Worldfish Center Quarterly 25, 23–29.Google Scholar
Morte, S., Redon, M.J. and Sanz-Brau, A. (2001) Diet of Scorpaena porcus and Scorpaena notata (Pisces: Scorpaenidae) in the Western Mediterranean. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 42, 333–344.Google Scholar
Nikolsky, G.V. (1976) The ecology of fishes. London: Academic Press.Google ScholarPubMed
Pajuelo, J.G., Lorenzo, J.M., Mendez, M., Coca, J. and Ramos, A.G. (2002) Determination of age and growth of the striped seabream Lithognathus mormyrus (Sparidae) in the Canarian archipelago by otolith readings and backcalculation. Scientia Marina 66, 27–32.Google Scholar
Pallaoro, A., Šantić, M. and Jardas, I. (2003) Feeding habits of the saddled bream, Oblada melanura (Sparidae), in the Adriatic Sea. Cybium 27, 261–268.Google Scholar
Pauly, D., Froese, R., Sa-a, P., Palomares, M.L., Christensen, V. and Rius, J. (2000) TrophLab Manual. Manila: ICLARM.Google Scholar
Pinkas, L., Oliphant, M.S. and Iverson, I.L.K. (1971) Foods habits of albacore, bluefin tuna and bonito in Californian waters. California Fish and Game 152, 1–105.Google Scholar
Pita, C., Gamito, S. and Erzini, K. (2002) Feeding habits of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) from the Ria Formosa (southern Portugal) as compared to the black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) and the annular seabream (Diplodus annularis). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 18, 81–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ribeiro, J., Bentes, L., Coelho, R., Gonçalves, J.M.S., Lino, P. and Erzini, K. (2006) Seasonal, tidal and diurnal changes in fish assemblages associated with seagrass and sand habitats of the Ria Formosa lagoon (Portugal). Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science 67, 461–474.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riedel, R. (1963) Fauna und flora der Adria. Hamburg: Verlag Paul Parey.Google Scholar
Rosecchi, E. (1987) L'alimentation de Diplodus annularis, Diplodus sargus, Diplodus vulgaris et Sparus aurata (Pisces, Sparidae) dans le Golf du Lion et les lagunes littorales. Revue des Travaux de l'Institut des pêches Maritimes 49, 125–141.Google Scholar
Rosecchi, E. and Nouaze, Y. (1987) Comparaison de cinq indices alimentaires utilisés dans l'analyse des contenus stomacaux. Revue des Travaux de l'Institut des pêches Maritimes 49, 111–123.Google Scholar
Šantić, M., Paladin, A. and Elez, G. (2010) Diet of striped sea bream Lithognathus mormyrus (Sparidae) from eastern central Adriatic Sea. Cybium 3, 345–352.Google Scholar
Schoener, T.W. (1971) Theory of feeding strategies. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 2, 369–404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sokal, R.R. and Rohlf, F.J. (1981) Biometry: the principles and practices of statistics in biological research, 2nd edn. San Francisco, CA: W. H. Freeman and Company.Google Scholar
Stergiou, K.I. and Karpouzi, V.S. (2002) Feeding habits and trophic levels of Mediterranean fish. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 11, 217–254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stergiou, K. and Polunin, N. (2000) Fishing down the Mediterranean food webs. CIESM Workshop Series 12, 1–100.Google Scholar
Suau, P. (1970) Contribución al estudio de la biología de Lithognathus (Pagellus) mormyrus L. (Pices esparidos). Investigación Pesquera 34, 237–265.Google Scholar
Tyler, A.Y. (1971) Monthly changes in stomach contents of demersal fishes in Passamaquoddy Bay (N.B.). Fisheries Research Board of Canada Technical Papers 288. 114 pp.Google Scholar
Wallace, R.K. (1981) An assessment of diet-overlap indexes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 110, 72–76.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wassef, E.A. and Eisawy, A. (1985) Food and feeding habits of wild and reared gilthead bream Sparus aurata L. Cybium 9, 233–242.Google Scholar
Zar, J.J. (1984) Biostatistical analysis. London: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar