• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.8
• /
• pp.482-490
• /
• 2023

Food and feeding habits of Labeobarbus intermedius were studied from the newly constructed Ribb Reservoir, Ethiopia during the dry (December-March) season and wet season (June-August) of 2021. The objective of the study was to determine the diet composition, seasonal variation, and ontogenetic dietary shift in the diets of the dominant cyprinid fish in Ribb Reservoir. In this study, frequency of occurrence and volumetric analysis methods were used to present the results. From a total of 203 fish samples, 132 (65%) guts contained food items. Macrophytes (29.4%), phytoplankton (27.2%), detritus (14.8%), and insects (13.6%) were the major food items in the diets volumetrically. During the dry season, L. intermedius was mainly dependent on phytoplankton (58.2%), insects (15.2%), and zooplankton (13.7%) volumetrically. Whereas, macrophytes (50.3%) and detritus (23.3%) were the dominant food items in the wet season. The frequency occurrence and volumetric contribution of the diets of L. intermedius varied significantly (χ² test, p < 0.05) between seasons. Schoener's diet overlap index revealed a slight ontogenetic dietary shift in the diets of L. intermedius. While insects, nematodes, and zooplankton were the main diets of small-sized L. intermedius, macrophytes and detritus were ingested by large-sized L. intermedius. Generally, L. intermedius fed both plant and animal-origin food items and is considered an omnivorous feeder in Ribb Reservoir.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.169-180
• /
• 2023

Oreochromis niloticus is the most ecologically and economically important fish in tropical and sub-tropical aquatic systems. Recently, due to sever anthropogenic stressors, hydrological variations and infestations of invasive alien species in Ethiopian water bodies, fish community structure and ecosystem of Lake Tana is changing alarmingly. So far, there is paucity of information on the morphometric relations and diet composition of O. niloticus in Lake Tana, gulf of Gorgora. A total of 309 fish samples were collected and their total length (TL), standard length (SL) and total weight (TW) were measured to determine morphometric relations; and gut contents were examined to identify most important food item in the diet of the fish. Results indicated that, the relation between TL and SL was significant (p < 0.001) and linear (SL = 0.942TL-2.41) while the relation between TL and TW was curvilinear (TW = 0.014 TL^2.8) indicating allometric growth. Among the total guts scrutinized, 53 (17.3%) of them were empty and the remaining 256 (82.7%) were non-empty. Phytoplankton constituted the largest bulk and occurred in 77% of the guts examined and volumetrically accounted 44.3%. Detritus and zooplankton had an intermediate importance by occurring 60.2% and 63.3% of all guts scrutinized and constituted about 25.6% and 15.5% of the total volume respectively. Contributions of macrophytes, insects, nematodes and unidentified food items were relatively low in their importance. Ontogenetic dietary shift was observed in the diet indicating an omnivorous feeding habit of the adult fish.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.265-271
• /
• 2015

The feeding habits of Okamejei kenojei were studied using 242 specimens collected from October 2010 to September 2011 in the coastal waters of Gadeok-do, Korea. O. kenojei was carnivorous feeder that consumed mainly shrimps, crabs, and fishes. Its diet also included small quantities of stomatods, cephalopods, amphipods. The size of O. kenojei ranged from 10.4 to 47.4 cm in total length (TL). O. kenojei showed ontogenetic dietary shift. <15.0, 15.0-19.9 cm size classes fed mainly on shrimps and amphipods. 20.0-24.9 cm size class fed mainly shrimps and crabs. Thereafter, shrimps and crabs were decreased with ontogenesis while fishes and cephalopods were increased. Increasing size, the mN/ST were constantly decreased, but mW/ST were constantly increased.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.33-38
• /
• 2015

The diet composition of Leiognathus nuchalis were studied using 350 specimens collected from October 2010 to September 2011 in the coastal waters of Gadeok-do, Korea. L. nuchalis was carnivorous feeder that consumed mainly copepods, crab larvae, and shrimp larvae. Its diet also included small quantities of polychaetes, amphipods, euphausiids, bivalve larvae, and gastropod larvae. The size of L. nuchalis ranged from 3.0 to 9.8 cm in body length (BL). L. nuchalis underwent an ontogenetic dietary shift. 3~5 cm size individuals fed mainly on copepods. 5~7 cm size individuals fed mainly crab larvae and shrimp larvae. 8~10 cm size individuals fed mainly polychaetes. The size increases, the weight of food organisms are constantly increased.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.160-167
• /
• 2014

The feeding habits of Tridentiger bifasciatus were studied using 733 individuals collected in the tidal creek at Sangnae-ri, Suncheon, Korea, using a push net, monthly, from April 2011 to March 2012. The standard length (SL) of the specimens ranged from 1.5 to 8.2 cm. The stomach content analysis indicated that T. bifasciatus consumed mainly amphipods, such as Corophium sp., while copepods, polychaetes, and shrimps were other important prey species. In addition T. bifasciatus ate small quantities of crab larvae, fish, gastropod larvae, and insects. T. bifasciatus is a generalist that feeds on various zoobenthos, including fish. T. bifasciatus underwent an ontogenetic dietary shift. Smaller individuals (1-2 cm SL) fed mainly on amphipods. The proportion of amphipods decreased as body size increased, whereas the consumption of polychaetes increased gradually. The seasonal variation in the diet composition of T. bifasciatus was significant. Insects were common prey during summer, while the amounts of other prey, including polychaetes, were similar during spring, autumn, and winter.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.172-178
• /
• 2022

To investigate the feeding habits and trophic level of the blackthroat seaperch, Doederleinia berycoides in the South Sea of Korea, fish samples were collected by a bottom trawl net from fisheries resources survey vessels of NIFS in February, May, August and November 2021. The total length (TL) of these specimens was from 3.3 to 33.1 cm. D. berycoides fed majorly on Teleostei (especially Engraulis japonicus) based on index of relative importance (%IRI=64.4%). D. berycoides underwent an ontogenetic dietary shift. Smaller individuals (<10.0 cm TL) fed mainly on amphipods. The proportion of amphipods decreased as body size increased, whereas the consumption of Teleostei increased gradually. Examination of the feeding habits according to ontogentic feeding patterns in the diets of D. berycoides revealed that the mean weight of prey (mW/ST) continuously increased, while mean number of prey (mN/ST) decreased and then increased. The estimated average trophic level of the D. berycoides was 3.62±0.64, ranging from 3.31±0.52 to 3.79±0.70.