Diel feeding activity of demersal fishes in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain): an area of intense mussel raft culture
Fernández, L.; Freire, J.; González-Gurriarán, E. (1995). Diel feeding activity of demersal fishes in the Ría de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain): an area of intense mussel raft culture. Cah. Biol. Mar. 36(2): 141-151
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Fernández, L.
- Freire, J.
- González-Gurriarán, E.
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| Abstract |
A study was carried out on the diel feeding pattern of five species of demersal fishes, Lesueurigobius friesii and Gobius niger (Gobiidae), Trisopterus luscus (Gadidae), Callionymus lyra (Callionymidae), and Symphodus cinereus (Labridae), in the Ria de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain), an estuary that supports an intensive raft mussel culture. We have analyzed stomach contents obtained in different habitats (mussel rafts, beach and central channel) over a diel cycle. Pisidia longicornis is the dominant species of the raft epifauna, and their megalopae made up over 70% of the diet of L. friesii, T. luscus and C. lyra in the middle ria zone, both in the culture areas and in the central channel. In the inner ria raft station the diet of L. friesii and G. niger was composed mainly of prey from the culture rope epifauna, but no megalopae were present. In the beach zones the diet of G. niger and S. cinereus was dominated by infaunal prey, mainly polychaetes. Due to the abundance of food provided by the associated epifauna, mussel culture influences the feeding habits of demersal fishes in the Ria de Arousa. In general, they fed throughout the day without a main period. However, the spring bloom of P. longicornis larvae changes the diel feeding activity patterns and diet of the demersal fish community. S. cinereus was the only species that showed higher fullness levels during the day in the beach zone, where P. longicornis megalopae were not present. |
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