Palavras chave: Copepoda, alimentação, peixes, teia trófica, estuário
ABSTRACTMany economical and ecological important estuarine fishes are common in the artisan fisheries at the Santa Cruz Channel (Itamaracá -Brazil). Studies about fishes feeding emphasized the Copepoda as they are important to assess the throphic web interactions. Samples were monthly collected along Santa Cruz Channel with a seine net, from 1995 to 1998, besides data published since 1979. Fishes stomach content were analysed under a compound microscope and stereomicroscope. The fishes species that Copepoda were registered in the stomach content were: Opisthonema oglinum (Oithona spp. -40%), Citharichthys spilopterus (Parvocalanus crassisrostris -18%; Oithona spp. -5%; Calanopia americana -8%), Symphurus plagusia (Parvocalanus crassisrostris -20%, Euterpina acutifrons -5% and Acartia lilljeborgi -5%, Oithona spp. -5%); Eugerres brasilianus and Diapterus auratus (Macrosetella gracilis -6%, Farranula gracilis -3%, Acartia lilljeborgi -10%, Euterpina acutifrons -3% and Oncaea sp.-3%). Copepoda nauplii, eggs and carapace from non identified copepod species were also commonly registered. It was observed that planktonic Copepoda was a frequent food item to many fish species in the Santa Cruz Channel.
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