Diet composition of carnivorous fishes from coral reef lagoons of New Caledonia

Abstract

A total of 212 carnivorous coastal fish species from New Caledonia, represented by 7335 individuals, were analysed for their diet. Fifty two prey items were identified and later grouped into broader taxonomic categories refered as "prey types". For each fish species 6 biological traits were defined: maximum adult size, major biotope, schooling behaviour, home range, nycthemeral behaviour, degree of crypticity. A general linear model was fit to the diet data taking into account these traits, and depth of capture and fish family. This model was applied to the average number of prey types/stomach and to the volume of 5 prey types: nekton, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, worms. A second analysis was performed on the effect of observed size on diet composition, taking into account these traits and taxonomy. This analysis was restricted to species with at least five individuals, representing 113 species from 33 families. More detailed information is given for the three major families, Serranidae, Lutjanidae and Lethrinidae and intra-family variations are illustrated for Lethrinidae. All the factors tested had significant effects on diet, fish size and taxonomy being the two major factors. The five prey types analysed in detail displayed marked differences according to the factors studied. In particular nekton increased in importance with fish size, whereas crustaceans decreased and molluscs presented a dome shaped relationship. Nekton and crustaceans made the bulk of the diet of most species, with molluscs being at times important. Echinoderms and worms were never a major food item and were eaten only by a restricted range of species.Résumé -Régime alimentaire de poissons carnivores des récifs coralliens de Nouvelle Calédonie. Un ensemble de 212 espèces de poissons carnivores côtiers de Nouvelle Calédonie, représentées par 7335 spécimens, ont été analysés pour étudier leur régime alimentaire. Cinquante-deux types de proies ont été identifiées et regroupées par la suite dans des catégories plus vastes ou « type de proies ». Pour chaque espèce, six caractéristiques biologiques ont été définies : taille adulte maximale, principal biotope, grégarité, domaine vital, comportement nycthéméral, niveau de crypticité. Un modèle linéaire général a été ajusté à ces données, en prenant en compte ces caractéristiques ainsi que la profondeur de capture et la famille. Ce modèle est appliqué au nombre moyen de proies par estomac ainsi qu'au volume de cinq types de proies : necton, crustacés, mollusques, échinodermes et vers. Une seconde analyse porte sur les effets de la taille observée sur la composition de l'alimentation, prenant en compte ces caractéristiques vitales et la taxonomie ; cette analyse est restreinte aux espèces comportant au moins 5 spécimens, ce qui représente 113 espèces provenant de 33 familles. Une information plus détaillée est fournie pour les trois familles principales : Serranidae, Lutjanidae et Lethrinidae et les variations au sein d'une même famille sont illustrées pour les Lethrinidae. Tous les facteurs ...

Mercury (Hg) speciation in coral reef systems of remote Oceania: Implications for the artisanal fisheries of Tutuila, Samoa Islands

“…With regard to Hg in herbivorous fish, these sites were interpreted as independent, and highly representative of un-impacted coral reef systems in remote Oceania. Mullids feed extensively on invertebrate benthic infauna (mainly worms, mollusks, and crustaceans) primarily in sediments below the lower reef margin (Wahbeh, 1992;Myers, 1999;Kulbicki et al, 2005), and were considered to be potentially good indicators of Hg sequestration and uptake from the sediment compartment of remote coral reef environments. showed a consistent pattern of increased concentration with body weight, unlike reef fish from lower trophic levels (Table 13), and was expectedly higher than for A. lineatus and the Mullids.…”

Diet and trophic status of fish landed by tropical artisanal bait fishers, Mida creek Kenya

“…It is apparent that artisanal bait fishermen at Mida exploit similar fish, as others in the region and Indo-West pacific region, where catches are dominated by fish from four main families; Lethrinidae, Serranidae, Lutjanidae and Carangidae (Kulbicki et al, 2005;Agembe et al, 2010). Agembe et al, (2010) report prevalence of Serranids in landings along the Kenyan coastline, thus the apparent decline of landings of the commercially important Serranid-Siganus sutor from Mida, is indicative of selective overharvesting, and may necessitate more exhaustive survey and subsequent regulation.…”

“…Difference in feeding habits among these fishes is attributed to taxonomic difference coupled with size differences. Larger fish consume more nekton and mollusc than smaller fish and juveniles (Kulbicki et al, 2005 In the highly turbid mangrove dominated creek, proteinious chemical cues emanating from the bait may play a powerful role in enhancing attractiveness of bait to fish. However, the chemical nature of the baits used by artisanal fishermen has rarely been explored.…”

“…Tropical artisanal fisheries targeting dermersal fishes, such as Serranidae, Lutjanidae, belong to benthopelagic guilds at the 3 to 4 th trophic levels, while flatfish (Dasyatidae) and sharks (Carcharhinidae), belong to the top carnivore levels (Kulbicki et al, 2005;Ainsworth et al, 2009). Trophic level monitoring is thus an important indicator of the sustainability of a multispecies artisanal fishery.…”

Feeding habits of whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) in Caraguatatuba Bay, southeastern Brazil

“…Information on the feeding habits of fish is useful to understand the basic functioning of fish assemblages, is widely used for autoecology studies and modeling, and is an increasingly important tool in ecologically based management (KULBICKI et al, 2005). Numerous studies have examined the feeding habits of many fish species worldwide (HYNES, 1950;HYSLOP, 1980;PIANKA, 1988;MOTTA et al, 1995;BERGMANN & MOTTA, 2005;BIZZARRO et al, 2007;MUÑOZ et al, 2011).…”