In:
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 85, No. 2 ( 2005-04), p. 425-431
Abstract:
Scales for stomach fullness and colour were developed and calibrated in order to provide an easy and reliable way to determine feeding intensity and food quality in sardines. The categories of the fullness scale reproduce the amount of food intake as indicated by the weight of the stomachs. The levels of the colour scale reflect the type of plankton eaten as shown by concentration of a -type phaeopigments and prey analysis of the stomach contents. Individuals of a wide length range were used in this study, leading us to suggest that these indices can be applied to the entire juvenile and adult sardine population. The use of the colour and fullness scales provides a rapid and efficient means of characterizing sardine feeding. Based on the colour and fullness categories of the stomachs the majority of stomachs were almost empty or at most half-full and the diet was composed of different proportions of phyto- and zooplankton items. As indicated by the prey analyses of the contents the most important constituent of the diet, in volume, were zooplankton prey.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0025-3154
,
1469-7769
DOI:
10.1017/S0025315405011367h
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1491269-7
detail.hit.zdb_id:
281325-7
SSG:
12
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