Feeding Habits and the Occurrence of Anthropogenic Debris in the Stomach Content of Marine Fish from Pattani Bay, Gulf of Thailand

Abstract

This study assessed the feeding habits and ingestion of anthropogenic debris in 34 marine fish species from the southern Gulf of Thailand. A total of 5478 fish samples of 12 families were categorised into seven groups: planktivore, Lucifer feeder, fish feeder, Acetes feeder, shrimp feeder, piscivore, and zoobenthivore fish. A total of 2477 anthropogenic debris items were extracted from 12 fish species by visual inspection. Their ingestion of anthropogenic debris was influenced by season (p < 0.0001), with the highest ingestion during the northeast monsoon season. Furthermore, planktivorous fish displayed more ingested anthropogenic debris than the other investigated species (p = 0.022). Blue-coloured anthropogenic debris was commonly detected in the stomachs of fish and significantly differed between species (p > 0.001). Water depth and season significantly influenced the availability of food types (AF) for fish (p < 0.001). These findings provide evidence of the ingestion of anthropogenic debris by fish inhabiting a natural bay and signal the future anthropogenic pollution of marine fish.

Feeding habits of four-finger threadfin fish, Eleutheronema tetradactylum, and its diet interaction with co-existing fish species in the coastal waters of Thailand

“…Feeding ecological study in fishes has been conducted worldwide due to its fundamental importance in understanding the role of fish in ecosystem ( e.g., Wootton, 1990 ; Blaber, 2013 ; Baeta & Ramon, 2013 ; Kwak, Klumpp & Park, 2015 ; Ende et al, 2018 ; Lin et al, 2020 ; Dinh et al, 2021 ; Soe et al, 2021 ; Hajisamae et al, 2022 ). Eleutheronema tetradactylum , known as four-finger threadfin, belongs to the family Polynemidae and is mostly found in the estuarine and marine shallow water habitat ( Motomura et al, 2002 ; Nesarul et al, 2014 ; Adelir-Alves et al, 2018 ; Roshni et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Adult of this species is a typical-carnivore feeding on crustacean and fish ( Hena et al, 2011 ). They consume mainly copepods, mysids, and crustacean larvae during larval stage ( Malhotra, 1953 ), but shift to shrimp and teleost fish when they become juvenile ( Haywood et al, 1998 ; Jaferian et al, 2010 ; Soe et al, 2021 ). However, most previous reports did not focus on E. tetradactylum and only examined a particular stage of fish based on the availability of collected samples.…”

“…Habitat and season are the essential factors structuring trophic organization and feeding habits of fishes ( Hajisamae, Chou & Ibrahim, 2004 ; Soe et al, 2021 ). Some fishes may choose a habitat providing abundant and diverse prey while some fish may select a habitat with less prey abundance but easy to capture ( Crowder & Cooper, 1982 ).…”

“…Some fishes may choose a habitat providing abundant and diverse prey while some fish may select a habitat with less prey abundance but easy to capture ( Crowder & Cooper, 1982 ). To gain a better understanding of the feeding ecology of fish, it is essential to assess the inter-specific trophic relationships of fishes that co-exist in the same habitat ( Elliott et al, 2007 ; Soe et al, 2021 ). Several fishes compete for the same food type and some avoid competing with other co-existing species ( Vogt et al, 2017 ; Páez-Rosas et al, 2018 ; Soe et al, 2021 ).…”

“…To gain a better understanding of the feeding ecology of fish, it is essential to assess the inter-specific trophic relationships of fishes that co-exist in the same habitat ( Elliott et al, 2007 ; Soe et al, 2021 ). Several fishes compete for the same food type and some avoid competing with other co-existing species ( Vogt et al, 2017 ; Páez-Rosas et al, 2018 ; Soe et al, 2021 ). However, some fishes may predate on other or similar fish species as prey.…”