Selective predation on small crustaceans by six demersal fish species in Iraklion Bay (Cretan Sea, north-eastern Mediterranean)
Labropoulou, M.; Plaitis, W. (1995). Selective predation on small crustaceans by six demersal fish species in Iraklion Bay (Cretan Sea, north-eastern Mediterranean), in: Eleftheriou, A. et al. (Ed.) Biology and ecology of shallow coastal waters. Proceedings of the 28th European Marine Biological Symposium, Crete, Greece, 23-28 September 1993. International Symposium Series, : pp. 351-357
In: Eleftheriou, A.; Ansell, A.D.; Smith, C.J. (Ed.) (1995). Biology and ecology of shallow coastal waters: Proceedings of the 28th European Marine Biological Symposium, Crete, Greece, 23-28 September 1993. European Marine Biology Symposia, 28. Olsen & Olsen: Copenhagen. 361 pp., more
In: European Marine Biology Symposia., more
|
| Available in | Authors |
|
Document type: Conference paper
|
| Keywords |
Aquatic organisms > Marine organisms > Fish > Marine fish
Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Shellfish > Marine organisms > Marine crustaceans
Fisheries > Demersal fisheries
Interspecific relationships > Predation
Interspecific relationships > Predation > Prey selection
Trophic relationships
Water bodies > Coastal waters
MED, Eastern Mediterranean [Marine Regions]; MED, Greece [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Labropoulou, M.
- Plaitis, W.
|
|
|
| Abstract |
The trophic relationships of six demersal fish species occupying the shallow coast area (25-30 m), in Iraklion Bay (Cretan Sea, NE Mediterranean) were studied over two years (1990-92). Monthly samplings carried out over this period showed that Serranus hepatus, Serranus cabrilla, Pagrus pagrus, Mullus barbatus, Mullus surmuletus and Trigloporus lastoviza were the numerically dominant fish in the shallow subtidal area of the bay. These species all consumed considerable numbers of small crustaceans (amphipods, cumaceans, tanaids and isopods), though they displayed different feeding modes based on the principal prey type utilisation. Prey items were identified to species level for each of the examined fish species, . n order to determine whether there were any underlying patterns of predation on small crustaceans. The numbers of each species found in the diet, as well as the body length of each individual, were also measured. The length-frequency distribution of crustacean prey items found in the stomach contents was used to estimate prey-size utilization. Diets were compared using the percentage contribution by number, of each prey species in the diet of the predators. Similarities in the diets between the fish species were calculated. Cluster analysis was used to describe interspecific variations in food habits of the predators, concerning small crustaceans. Results of the study show that there is some degree of resource partitioning between the fish species investigated. The effects of predator size and type, the availability of the prey in the environment and the micro habitats of prey species are discussed, in an attempt to explain the differential exploitation of small crustaceans by the fish. |
|
