Diel feeding, daily food consumption and the predatory impact of whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) in an estuarine environment

Diel feeding pattern and food consumption of whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) were examined and related to seasonal variations in an estuarine environment. To determine diel feeding pattern whitemouth croaker were collected from the Patos Lagoon Estuary over 24 h (～3‐h intervals) and their stomach contents were examined. Food consumption of whitemouth croaker was determined from evacuation rates estimated experimentally and in the field. The results suggested that whitemouth croaker in the Patos Lagoon estuary feed all day long. However, whitemouth croaker showed higher feeding intensity and food consumption during daylight hours when the water transparency increased than in others when water transparency was low. Thus, whitemouth croaker seemed to intensify their feeding when they could see their prey. Daily food consumption was between 0.9 and 5.3% of body wet weight (these being the lowest and highest consumption rates during the winter and summer, respectively). The maximum predation impact of whitemouth croaker on their preferential prey, the tanaid Kalliapseudes schubartii, was 27indiv·m^?2·day^?1. The results suggested that the changes in water transparency seem to affect the diel feeding pattern and food consumption of whitemouth croaker. This could have important consequences for fish growth.     

Estimation of the annual consumption of food by Cape hake Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus off the South African west coast

Information on hake stomach contents collected during research cruises off the west coast of South Africa between 1988 and 1990 is analysed. Estimates of the annual consumption and daily ration of the Cape hakes Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus are obtained. Coefficients of variation (CVs) for these estimates are estimated by a bootstrap variance-estimation procedure. Cape hakes are opportunistic feeders. Juveniles feed mainly on crustaceans and the diet becomes increasingly piscivorous with age. Anchovy were the dominant dietary item of juvenile M. capensis, although this may be a reflection of the fact that anchovy were readily available at the time of the surveys. The large number of anchovy found in the diet during this study highlights the dangers of extrapolating consumption estimates for opportunistic feeders to other time periods. Pooling of data across geographic and seasonal strata introduces substantial bias in estimates of consumption and daily ration for only the pelagic prey species. Estimates of annual consumption are highly sensitive to the cruise selected to provide the estimates of numbers-at-length, because these latter estimates vary substantially between cruises. Furthermore, estimates of annual consumption and daily ration by prey species are very imprecise due to the effects of small sample sizes, the opportunistic nature of and natural variability associated with feeding. This implies that it is unlikely that model-estimation procedures which utilize these data will be able to provide particularly precise predictions. Therefore, before any larger-scale stomach collection exercise is undertaken, it is advisable to perform simulation studies to assess the sampling intensity required to achieve the desired levels of accuracy and precision for predictions from multispecies model-estimation procedures which make use of such data.     

摄食水平对梭鱼的生长和能量收支的影响

于 1 999年 8— 1 2月 ,在水温为 (2 4 .0± 0 .5 )℃ ,摄食水平分别为体重的 0 %、1 %、2 %、3 %、4%和饱食的条件下进行梭鱼的摄食 -生长实验。结果表明 ,梭鱼湿重、干重、蛋白质和能量的特定生长率 (SGR)与摄食水平呈直线关系 ,其转化效率与摄食水平的增加成正比 ;梭鱼的湿重、蛋白质、干重和能量的维持水平分别为体重的 1 .85 1、1 .85 3、2 .882和 2 .3 4 2 (% d) ;排粪率和排泄率随摄食水平的增加而增加 ,并呈直线关系。在最大摄食水平下 ,能量收支等式为 :1 0 0C =4.41F +1 1 .1 8U +47.0 6R +3 7.3 5G     

The diet of Patagonian hake Merluccius australis polylepis and its daily ration of Patagonian grenadier Macrouronus magellanicus

The diet of the Patagonian hake Merluccius australis polylepis in 1986 was determined by analysis of stomach samples collected from commercial trawl catches. The major prey items were Patagonian grenadier Macrouronus magellanicus and, to a lesser extent, southern blue whiting Micromesistius australis. Large (81–100 cm) hake are mainly piscivorous and consume more grenadier than smaller (51–80 cm) hake. The smaller hake feed both on fish and invertebrates. There was no difference by sex in terms of stomach contents. The daily feeding cycle was also investigated from samples collected during 1991. Hake feed principally on 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old grenadier, which they seem to catch mainly at night. The daily ration of grenadier was between 0,043 and 0,26 per cent of body mass (1,692–9,849 g). The results are similar to those for other hake species in terms of composition of the diet, daily feeding cycle and daily ration.     

Diel feeding of the transparent goby Aphia minuta (Pisces,Gobiidae) in the Northwestern Adriatic Sea in spring time

The present study provides the first estimate of the daily ration for a goby species in the Mediterranean Sea, using a new approach to determine the mass of fish stomach contents through the sum of individual prey dry mass derived indirectly from prey size. Diel feeding activity and daily ration of the pelagic goby Aphia minuta were studied under natural conditions in the coastal waters off Comacchio (Northwestern Adriatic Sea) during the spring season. A total of 318 individuals of A. minuta, collected by 14 trawls carried out on 4 consecutive days, was examined for gut contents. The diel pattern of the vacuity index and the stomach fullness index indicated that A. minuta has nocturnal feeding behaviour. The daily ration, computed over a period of 16 h, was equivalent to 2.23% wet body mass.     

Grazing Impact of the Copepod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calanus sinicus</Emphasis> on Phytoplankton in the Northern East China Sea in Late Spring

We investigated the feeding habits of Calanus sinicus during its four developmental stages as copepodite 4 (CIV), copepodite 5 (CV), adult males and females in early June 2015 at 12 sampling stations along the southern coast of Korea to the northern East China Sea, to better understand the role of C. sinicus in controlling phytoplankton stocks. Ingestion rate, daily ration as body carbon, population ingestion rate, and grazing impact were estimated using the gut pigment method. The mean biomass of CVs was the greatest (13.5 mg C m^–3) and that of adult males was the lowest (0.7 mg C m^–3). The ingestion rate per C. sinicus individual tended to increase with developmental stage, with the highest rate in adult females (519 ng chl ind^–1 d^–1) and the lowest rate in CIVs (305 ng chl ind^–1 d^–1). A significant correlation was found between ingestion rate and temperature, but not salinity or chlorophyll-a concentration. The daily ration of C. sinicus as body carbon significantly decreased with increased body weight, with the highest value found in CIVs (66.4%) and the lowest value in adult males (30%). Despite the high ingestion rate of the adults, the mean grazing impact of C. sinicus on phytoplankton biomass, in terms of chlorophyll-a concentration, was the highest in CVs (2.6%), followed by CIVs and adult females, and was the lowest in adult males (0.1%). The higher grazing impact of copepodites than adults underscores the importance of evaluating copepodite stages in the feeding studies of marine food webs.     

Prey consumption by the juvenile soles, Solea solea and Solea senegalensis, in the Tagus estuary,Portugal

The soles Solea solea and Solea senegalensis are marine flatfish that use coastal and estuarine nursery grounds, which generally present high food availability, refuge from predators and favourable conditions for rapid growth. Two important nursery grounds for these species juveniles have been identified in the Tagus estuary, one in the upper part of the estuary (nursery A) and another in the south bank (nursery B). While S. solea is only present at the uppermost nursery area, S. senegalensis is present at both nurseries. Although they are among the most important predators in these nursery grounds, there are no estimates on their food consumption or on the carrying capacity of the system for soles. The Elliott and Persson [1978. The estimation of daily rates of food consumption for fish. Journal of Animal Ecology 47, 977–993] model was used to estimate food consumption of both species juveniles in both nursery areas, taking into account gastric evacuation rates (previously determined) and 24 h sampling surveys, based on beam-trawl catches carried out every 3 h, in the summer of 1995. Monthly beam trawls were performed to determine sole densities over the summer. Density estimates and daily food consumption values were used to calculate total consumption over the summer period. Sediment samples were taken for the estimation of prey densities and total biomass in the nursery areas. Daily food consumption was lower for S. solea (0.030 g wet weight d⁻¹) than for S. senegalensis (0.075 g wet weight d⁻¹). It was concluded that thermal stress may be an important factor hindering S. solea's food consumption in the warmer months. Total consumption of S. solea over the summer (90 days) was estimated to be 97 kg (wet weight). Solea senegalensis total consumption in nursery A was estimated to be 103 kg, while in nursery B it was 528 kg. Total prey biomass estimated for nursery A was 300 tonnes, while for nursery B it was 58 tonnes. This suggests that food is not a limiting factor for sole in the Tagus estuary. However it was concluded that more in-depth studies into the food consumption of other species and prey availability are needed in order to determine the carrying capacity of this system for sole juveniles.     

Reduced abundance of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) and other native fish in turbid rivers of the North Island of New Zealand

Laboratory experiments demonstrated that migrant juvenile banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus Gray) were more sensitive to suspended sediment (SS) than other native fish species. If juvenile migrants avoid waters made turbid by SS and their recruitment to adult habitats up stream is reduced, then adult abundance may decline in turbid rivers. To test this, we compared the abundance of diadromous native fish between turbid and clear rivers. The duration (% time) for which SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre^‐1 (a critical level from laboratory experiments) during the migration season (August‐December) was estimated for over 150 New Zealand river sites. Turbid rivers were defined as those where SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre^‐1 for over 20% of the time and clear rivers as those where SS concentrations exceeded 120 mg litre^‐1 for less than 10% of the time. Eight turbid rivers and seven clear ones were identified where sufficient data on SS and native fish populations existed to permit a comparison. The mean occurrence of banded kokopu was reduced by 89.5% in turbid rivers and, although other diadromous fish species were also less common, banded kokopu was most affected. Densities of adult banded kokopu were also significantly lower in optimal stream habitats in three turbid compared with three matched clear rivers. We therefore concluded that the abundance of adult banded kokopu was reduced in turbid rivers and propose that this is because of reduced recruitment of juveniles in turbid rivers.     

A Length-based Analysis of Recruitment Variability in the Korean Pollock Population under Data-limited Conditions

The walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) population in Korean waters had thrived until the mid-1980s, but this fish population has been depleted since the late 1990s. Limited data and lack of ecological research about the population prevented us from revealing the mechanism or material cause that resulted in the population’s collapse. Instead, we intended to examine possible hypotheses for the collapse, and built a statistical linear model, where juvenile fish, adult fish, and environmental factors were explored as variables. Because actual data on fish ages were not available, we estimated age compositions of the fish sample, applying the length-frequency analysis suggested by Schnute and Fournier (1980) to data on their lengths. Then we used the estimates of age compositions to determine adequate time lags between juvenile and adult stages in the statistical linear model. The selected final model suggested that the depletion of the fish population was associated with changes in water temperatures during April, June, and October and with adult abundance, but was not with the other species (e.g., sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) and flatfishes (Pleuronectidae sp.)) considered in the model. We further interpreted the results from ecological perspectives, referring to previous studies and ecological hypotheses.     

5种海鱼的生态生长效率研究

在常温下进行星鳗、蛹、黑鳗、厚头平Ｙｏｕ和皱唇鲨等五种鱼类的生长实验，得出这５种鱼类摄食巢沙蚕、火枪乌贼、斑Ｊｉ（碎块）、带鱼（碎块）和玉筋鱼的生态生长效率波动于３．８￣３３．６％范围内，平均为１６．０％，相对平均日摄食量处于１．６￣１１．５％之间，另外，对饵料系数、平均日摄食量及平均体重日增长量进行了探讨。     

Food intake and body measurements of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncates) in captivity

The food consumption (recorded in kg of individual fish species), body length and mass of 11 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins kept first at Windsor Safari Park, UK (1979-1993/1994), and later at Harderwijk Marine Mammal Park, The Netherlands (1993/1994-1995) are reported. This broad-scale, longitudinal study is based on historical data that were originally recorded for short-term husbandry purposes. The chemical composition and caloric value of the diet were variable and were not recorded. The food intake quantities should therefore be viewed as rough weight estimates of what wild conspecifics might eat (depending on their diet). The average annual food consumption of adult males and non-pregnant, non-lactating females was approximately 2000 kg of fish (estimated at 176 x 10(5) kJ). Food consumption showed little increase during gestation, but was 58-97% higher during lactation than during similar periods in non-reproductive years. All six calves began to eat solid food within a year of birth although suckling continued for 14-37 months after birth. The pattern of food intake of mothers and calves varied substantially between suckling periods. No seasonal changes in food consumption were detected, although there were small seasonal changes in water temperature. Births occurred at various times of year, since the timing of mating varied between years. The animals' body length increased rapidly during the first 3 years of life after which the growth rate decreased. Body length reached asymptote at approximately 270 cm. Adults of both sexes weighed around 260 kg. The relationship between standard body length (in cm) and body mass (in kg), although based on a small sample size (n = 16), can be expressed as body mass = 17.261e(0.0156(body length-100)). Animals weighing 155-225 kg consumed between 2 and 4% of their body mass per day.     

The socio-economic context for improving food security through land based aquaculture in Solomon Islands: A peri-urban case study

Future fish demand-supply scenarios project that investment in aquaculture will be needed to ensure fish for food security in Solomon Islands. In 2010 a study of two peri-urban areas of Solomon Islands analysed the demand and potential for inland aquaculture, and the role of the introduced Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) in household livelihoods and existing value chains. Of 178 households interviewed, marine reef fish were the preferred fish for consumption, although tinned fish was also common. At the study sites, Mozambique tilapia was accessible and contributed to food security, particularly for inland households. Sixty five percent of the people actively fished for tilapia at least monthly; 13% of these fished on almost a daily basis. Fish were consumed by men, women and children and sold by both men and women in local village markets. Mozambique tilapia is considered to perform poorly in aquaculture. While other species like Nile tilapia or milkfish (Chanos chanos) are being considered for aquaculture by the Solomon Islands Government, Mozambique tilapia is currently the only cost-effective and widely available alternative for farming fish for household food security. This study lends weight to the premise that peri-urban households that are cash poor are likely to benefit nutritionally from easier access to tilapia or other freshwater fish.     

南方鲇的排粪量及消化率同日粮水平、体重和温度的关系

于１９８８年２月－１９８９年２月测定了南方鲇幼鱼的排粪量，从而估算共消化率。结果表明，当水温为２５℃时，在日粮水平分别是体重的１％，２％，４％和达饱食的条件下，平均消化率分别为摄入食物能量的８０．３２％，８４．９４％，８８．４０％ｔ ８７．２７％；在平均初始体重分别为８．７２，２５．４３，４５．１６，７８．１８和１２７．５ｇ的实验组中，平均消化率分别为８６．５９％，８１．１５％，９０．３８％，８６     

Mass,volume, and length relationships in plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) juveniles

The live body mass, body volume, and length were determined for four groups of juvenile plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.): (1) plaice immigrating into the Wadden Sea, (2) fish that had settled in the Wadden Sea, (3) settled fish that had been starved, and (4) laboratory-reared fish. Mass and volume values were obtained by applying Archimedes' principle to weights of fish obtained while they were immersed in waters of different densities. The allometric relationship of mass, volume, and length was determined for each group using principal component analysis. Fish in each treatment group had different mass-volume-length trajectories. Immigrating fish had the least mass and volume at fixed length, followed by settled fish, and laboratory-reared fish had the greatest mass at fixed length. Mass and volume differences between freshly captured settled fish and starved fish were slight. All treatments showed great variability in body mass and volume at fixed length, and the use of fish length alone as an index of fish size is problematic. It is suggested that centroid size is a better measurement of fish size when size is an important variate in a study.     

Effects of turbidity on the migration of juvenile banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) in a natural stream

Laboratory experiments have shown that the juvenile migratory stage of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus (Gray 1842)) is more sensitive to turbidity than other native fish species and avoids turbidity levels of >25 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Field trials using juvenile fish collected from the Tarawera River and Hays Stream, New Zealand, were used to test the results from these laboratory experiments by measuring the effects of turbidity on the migration direction and rate for banded kokopu in a natural stream setting. In the stream setting, neither the migration rate nor the migration direction were affected at turbidity <25 NTU. At higher turbidity levels, significantly fewer fish migrated up stream within a given time period. Because there was rarely any downstream movement, this suggests the fish either halted or slowed their upstream movement. A slower rate of migration could result in fewer juveniles reaching adult habitat, and would account for the reduced abundance of adult banded kokopu in rivers that are turbid during the migration season. Achieving turbidity levels of <25 NTU in rivers and streams during the migration season would therefore help maintain upstream migrations and populations of banded kokopu, and hence other native fish species.     

Population dynamics of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi and its impact on the zooplankton in the coastal regions of the Black Sea of the Crimean coast in 2004–2008

The abundance, biomasses, and population structure of the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi were monitored in the coastal waters of the northern part of the Black Sea (Sevastopol Bay and the adjacent continental shelf regions) in 2004–2008. The abundance and species composition of the comb jelly’s food in the sea were obtained along with experimental data on the digestion time. Based upon these data, the feeding intensity of the ctenophore in situ was estimated. This information was used to calculate the predatory impact of the comb jelly population on certain groups of forage organisms and the forage zooplankton community as a whole. The predatory impact of the M. leidyi population on the bivalve veligers was the highest (up to 90% of the abundance a day) compared to the Copepoda and Cladocera (30% and 40%, respectively). In the summers of 2004–2008, the daily consumption rates of the zooplankton by the ctenophore population in the shelf zone and in the bay were similar to each other: up to 15% and 12% of the abundance a day, respectively. The highest pressure of the ctenophore upon the zooplankton was observed in 2004 and 2008, when M. leidyi was especially abundant in the plankton for a long time.     

摄食水平对异育银鲫生长及能量收支的影响

于 1 995年 6月在中国科学院水生生物研究所关桥繁殖场采集异育银鲫自繁鱼种(体重为 1 .2 6± 0 .0 5g) ,采用生长实验的方法 ,在 30℃水温下 ,测定其从饥饿到饱食 6个摄食水平下的生长和能量收支。结果表明 ,随着摄食水平的增加 ,鱼体干物质和能量含量、表观消化率呈上升趋势 ;湿重特定生长率随摄食水平的增加呈线性上升 ,干重和能量特定生长率呈对数增加 ;饲料转化效率随摄食水平增加而增加 ,达到最大值后维持不变。排泄能和总代谢耗能占摄入食物能的比例不受摄食水平的影响。最大摄食水平下的能量收支式为 :1 0 0C =1 2 .32F 3.2 1U 63.74R 2 0 .72G ,式中 ,C为食物能 ,F为粪便能 ,U为排泄能 ,R为代谢能 ,G为生长能。     

Effects of feed restriction to enhance the profitable farming of blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii schlegelii in sea cages

The feed intake, growth and body composition of juvenile blackhead seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii schlegelii (Sparidae) (5.6 g fish^?1) were investigated for 16 weeks in sea cages under seven repetitive feeding cycles: every day feeding (control), 6-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F_6.1), 5-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F_5.1), 4-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F_4.1), 3-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F_3.1), 2-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F_2.1), and 1-day feeding and 1-day fasting (F_1.1). The survival of the fish during the experimental period was not different among the feeding cycles. The greatest weight gain of fish was observed in the control, but not significantly different from that of the F_6.1 and F_5.1 groups (p > 0.05). Total feed intake and daily feed intake decreased with the increase of fasting frequency, however, actual feed intake, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio increased with the increase of the fasting frequency. Proximate composition of the whole body of fish was not affected by different feeding cycles. These results suggest that juvenile blackhead seabreams subjected to repetitive feeding cycles of 6- or 5-days feeding and 1 day fasting for 16 weeks could achieve compensatory growth, and that such mild feeding deprivation could save significant amounts of feed without causing any profit reduction that might result from a decrease in fish size or quality.     

The effect of salinity on growth and weight loss of juvenile plaice (Pleuronectes platessa,L): An experimental test

Previous population estimates of the 0+ plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) in the Firth of Forth, east central Scotland, did not take account of the Forth estuary west of the Forth bridges. Previous work found plaice in the estuary grew as fast as, or faster than, the outer firth plaice. It was hypothesised that salinity may affect growth rates of early 0+ plaice. This hypothesis was tested in a laboratory experiment, by exposing juvenile plaice to three different, but naturally — experienced by the juveniles, salinities; 25, 30 and 35. Plaice fed a minimum ration did not grow in length. Mean weight decreased at all three salinities, however, the lowest weight loss was found at the lowest salinity (25) and the highest weight loss was found at the highest salinity (35). The minimum feeding ration was halted and plaice were then fed ad libitum. Consumption rates were not significantly different during the ad libitum feeding, while significant differences in mean weight change were found between the highest and lowest salinities.     

黑鲪生态生长效率周年变化的研究

于1983年12月-1984年5月和1990年6月-1991年1月以中国科学院海样研究所生物培育楼养殖黑为材料，进行黑周年的摄食-生长实验，以探讨其生态生长效率变化规律。结果表明，作为冷温性鱼，黑在4．0－27．3℃水温条件下都有摄食；平均日摄含量为2．4－10．0g，相对体重的百分比为1．1%-4.4%．单见，这二者的周年变化趋势基本一致；平均体重日增长量以4，6，7月和10－12月份较高。生态生长效率波动于6．5%-34．7%范围内，年平均为16．7％。