Ontogenetic changes in foraging tactics of the piscivorous cornetfish Fistularia commersonii

Abstract

Foraging behaviors of the piscivorous cornetfish Fistularia commersonii were observed at shallow reefs in Kuchierabu-jima Island, southern Japan. This fish foraged on two types of prey fishes: one was reef fish that typically dwell on or near substrata (e.g., Tripterygiidae and Labridae), and the other was pelagic fish that shoal in the water column (e.g., Clupeidae and Carangidae). The prey sizes, prey types and foraging behaviors changed as the predator size increased. Prey sizes were largely limited by gape size of the cornetfish, and small predators consumed small prey. The small cornetfish (10-30 cm in total length) fed only on reef fish captured after stalking (where the fish slowly approaches the prey and then suddenly attacks). The stalking was done either solitarily or in foraging association with conspecifics. Large fish (30-120 cm) fed on both types of fishes by stalking and/or chasing (where the fish chases the prey using its high mobility and attacks), either solitarily or in foraging association with con-or heterospecifics. Thus, chasing was only performed by the large cornetfish against pelagic prey fish in associative foraging with other con-and heterospecific predators. As their body sizes increased, F. commersonii began to show a diversification of foraging behaviors, which was strongly related not only to the habitat types and anti-predatory behaviors of the prey fishes but also to associative foraging with con-or heterospecifics, which improves their foraging success.

Effect of Predator Size and Prey Characteristics on Piscivory of Juvenile Largemouth Bass

“…For example, as juvenile Walleye grow, more prey are consumed due to behavioral developments in foraging behavior . Similarly, small Reef Cornetfish Fistularia commersonii (<30 cm TL) in the field mainly stalk benthic fish and have short attack distances, but larger fish forage on pelagic as well as benthic prey using chasing and associative foraging tactics (Takeuchi 2009). In prey vulnerability experiments, juvenile Largemouth Bass showed few ontogenetic changes in foraging behavior with size, even though prey morphology and behavior changed.…”

Diversity, structure and function of fish assemblages associated with Posidonia oceanica beds in an area of the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the role of non‐indigenous species

“…Significant numbers of adults were also occasionally found, leading to their classification as seagrass residents. Several studies have shown that F. commersonii ontogenetically shift towards more generalist feeding and habitat selection (Bilecenoglu et al , 2002; Takeuchi et al , 2002; Kalogirou et al , 2007; Bariche et al , 2009; Takeuchi, 2009). Lagocephalus sceleratus ranked among the 10 most dominant fish species in terms of biomass, a pattern resulting from the capture of a few large specimens during winter.…”

Multidimensionality in parasite-induced phenotypic alterations: ultimateversusproximate aspects

“…The relationship between multidimensionality and host diversity may eventually be tested by comparing the extent of multidimensionality in manipulation between parasites with trophic transmission differing in their specificity for final hosts. However, multidimensionality might be beneficial even if the parasite relies on a limited number of species as appropriate final hosts, when, for instance, the predatory behaviour of the latter shows some variation related to age (Graeb et al, 2006;Takeuchi, 2009).…”