FISH OTOLITHS AS INDICATORS OF THE CORMORANT PHALACROCORAX-CARBO DIET(AVES, PELECANIFORMES)

Authors
MARTUCCI O PIETRELLI L CONSIGLIO C
Citation
O. Martucci et al., FISH OTOLITHS AS INDICATORS OF THE CORMORANT PHALACROCORAX-CARBO DIET(AVES, PELECANIFORMES), Bollettino di zoologia, 60(4), 1993, pp. 393-396
Citations number
NO
Categorie Soggetti
Zoology
Journal title
Bollettino di zoologia → ACNP
ISSN journal
03734137
Volume
60
Issue
4
Year of publication
1993
Pages
393 - 396
Database
ISI
SICI code
0373-4137(1993)60:4<393:FOAIOT>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
The form and structure of fish otoliths are species specific. The vali dity of using ololiths found in pellets to determine the number, size and weight of fish consumed was tested on cormorants. They were fed wi th fishes of known number, size and weight; pellets were recovered aft er 24 hours. Sandsmelt (Atherina boyeri), striped mullet (Mugil cephal us), sole (solea vulgaris) and eel (Anguilla anguilla) were used. It w as found that it is possible to estimate the size and weight of prey c onsumed by birds from size or weight of the otoliths recovered from pe llets.