engleski

Feeding habits of four-spotted megrim, Lepidorhombus boscii (Risso, 1810) from the eastern Adriatic Sea

The feeding habits of the four-spotted megrim, Lepidorhombus boscii from the eastern Adriatic Sea were analysed. Stomach contents of 1070 specimens, 507 females and 455 males from 12.5 to 34.0 cm of total length (Lt), were studied. The samples were collected by the bottom-trawl net from July 2020 to June 2021. Percentage of empty stomachs was 63.27%. The analysis showed that four-spotted megrim is a carnivore. Moreover, it was found that there is no statistically significant difference in the food composition between seasons and sex. Three groups of prey were found in the analysed stomachs: Pisces, Crustacea and Mollusca. According to the number of prey, Crustacea and Mollusca were dominant, while Pisces was the least represented group. The essential foods were Crustacea (IRI = 5338.98 ; MFI = 2336.27 ; Q = 2496.33), Mollusca (IRI = 979.72 ; MFI = 570.36 ; Q = 551.17) and Pisces (IRI = 397.78 ; MFI = 193.21 ; Q = 188.91). Among Crustacea, the most important food were species Parapeneus longirostris (IRI = 1028.66 ; MFI = 491.03 ; Q = 482.71), Goneplax rhomboides (IRI = 530.60 ; MFI = 205.18 ; Q = 204.84) and Anuropodione amphiandra (IRI = 119.752) ; Q = 68.87), and Alloteuthis media (IRI = 333.42 ; MFI = 203.52 ; Q = 198.88) within the group of Mollusca. All other prey species found in stomachs were secondary food. Crustacea was the most important prey group for both sexes in all seasons. Pisces and Mollusca are most important for both sexes in autumn and winter, while in spring and summer they are secondary food.

diet analysis, seasonal variation, Lepidorhombus boscii, Adriatic sea.

nije evidentirano