Consumption of mesopelagic prey in the Strait of Messina, an upwelling area of the central Mediterranean Sea: feeding behaviour of the blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825)

Diet and trophic position of two mackerel species in the archipelago of Madeira, Portugal

“…Among the planktonic prey, calanoid copepods were the most consumed prey by both mackerel species in this study, which agrees with other studies performed in the Portuguese continental coast (Garrido et al ., 2015) and the Àmpere seamount (Denda et al ., 2017), for example. Mysids and euphausiids, which had important roles in the diet of these mackerels in other regions (Bachiller & Irigoien, 2015; Battaglia et al ., 2019; Castro, 1993; Kompowski, 1976; Sever et al ., 2006), and in a previous study conducted in Madeira (Costa et al ., 2013), were infrequent in this study. The differences found between Costa et al .…”

“…The different diet composition of these two species is related to their feeding behaviour and physiology of the feeding apparatus and not to their size, as the authors chose individuals of similar lengths and, presumably, similar agility. These results agree with those of other studies in the Mediterranean (Battaglia et al ., 2019; Sever et al ., 2006), the subtropical and tropical eastern Atlantic (Castro & Santana del Pino, 1995; Denda et al ., 2017; Gushchin & Corten, 2017; Wahbi et al ., 2015a) and along the Iberian coast (Bachiller & Irigoien, 2015; Garrido et al ., 2015). Other species of the genus Trachurus , such as T. lathami , also include both plankton and fish species in their diet (Carvalho & Soares, 2006).…”

“…Cannibalism has been previously reported in S. colias and other pelagic forage fish, such as S. pilchardus (Castro, 1993; Garrido et al ., 2008), in line with the findings for S. colias in this study. On the contrary, this was not observed for T. picturatus here, which consumed mainly M. scolopax and myctophids, in agreement with the results of other studies (Battaglia et al ., 2019; Hirch & Christiansen, 2010). Unlike what has been reported in other studies of individuals of similar sizes ( e.g ., Battaglia et al ., 2019; Kompowski, 1976), cephalopods were not consumed by T. picturatus in Madeira.…”

When opportunistic predators interact with swordfish harpoon fishing activities: shark depredation over catches in the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea)

“…The Strait of Messina is a narrow sea channel which connects the Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea and is considered one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean Sea (Battaglia et al 2017). This area has a strategic importance in movements of large pelagic species such as swordfish, bluefin tuna, cetaceans, sharks and rays (Fergusson et al 2000;Romeo et al 2003Romeo et al , 2015Canese et al 2011;Battaglia et al 2018Battaglia et al , 2020. The peculiar hydrodynamic regime, characterized by tidal and upwelling currents (Vercelli 1925;Mosetti 1991), makes possible the presence of important food resources in the area, which usually attract several large predators (Romeo et al 2012;Battaglia et al 2013Battaglia et al , 2017Battaglia et al , 2020.…”

“…This area has a strategic importance in movements of large pelagic species such as swordfish, bluefin tuna, cetaceans, sharks and rays (Fergusson et al 2000;Romeo et al 2003Romeo et al , 2015Canese et al 2011;Battaglia et al 2018Battaglia et al , 2020. The peculiar hydrodynamic regime, characterized by tidal and upwelling currents (Vercelli 1925;Mosetti 1991), makes possible the presence of important food resources in the area, which usually attract several large predators (Romeo et al 2012;Battaglia et al 2013Battaglia et al , 2017Battaglia et al , 2020. Furthermore, both bluefin tuna and swordfish converge in this area when the reproductive period approaches, to reach nearby spawning grounds in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea and use the Strait's environment and food resources to restore their energies (Romeo et al 2011(Romeo et al , 2015Battaglia et al 2013Battaglia et al , 2018Perzia et al 2016).…”