DIET OF THE EUROPEAN HAKE MERLUCCIUS-MERLUCCIUS (PISCES, MERLUCIIDAE)IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (GULF-OF-LIONS)

Citation
A. Bozzano et al., DIET OF THE EUROPEAN HAKE MERLUCCIUS-MERLUCCIUS (PISCES, MERLUCIIDAE)IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (GULF-OF-LIONS), Scientia marina, 61(1), 1997, pp. 1-8
Citations number
36
Categorie Soggetti
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Journal title
ISSN journal
02148358
Volume
61
Issue
1
Year of publication
1997
Pages
1 - 8
Database
ISI
SICI code
0214-8358(1997)61:1<1:DOTEHM>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
A total of 1526 hake stomach contents from specimens ranging between 8 and 65 cm in total length were studied in monthly samples taken in th e Gulf of Lions in 1993. Key factors influencing the degree of stomach fullness were related to the size and season. The hake diet is compri sed primarily of fish and crustaceans but there were size-related chan ges in the trophic spectrum. The youngest hake feed mainly on small cr ustaceans (such as euphausids and mysids) and small benthic fishes (su ch as gobids). As the hake grows, the importance oi fish in the diet i ncreases. The larger specimens greater than or equal to 25 cm TL feed increasingly on the larger decapods and, almost exclusively on active natatory fishes, such as the sardine.