Diet and food utilization in Oreochromis esculentus (Graham) in Lake Kanyaboli, Kenya

Abstract  Blue-green algae (Cyanophyta) and green algae (Chlorophyta) were the principal food items ingested by Oreochromis esculentus (Graham) in Lake Kanyaboli. Diatoms (Bacillariophyta), euglenoids (Euglenophyta) and zooplankton were also consistently present in the diet in small quantities. O. esculentus of different sizes fed on similar food items in the lake. The species fed actively during the day, from 0700 h until 1700 h when peak feeding activity occurred. Thereafter, digestion took place steadily until 0600 h, when 90% of the fish had empty stomachs. The diet composition remained the same throughout the year, as did the composition of phytoplankton in the lake. O. esculentus tended to select and digest the diatoms and zooplankton and, to some extent, the euglenoids. Blue-green and green algae were the least utilized food items and passed through the gut undigested.     

Development of mullet fisheries (Mugilidae) in Lake Quarun,Egypt

The waters of Lake Quarun have undergone severe chemical changes in the last 50 years. Salinity has increased progressively and is now 38‰ in some regions of the lake. Tilapia zillii is the only species that has not been affected by the salinity increase. Mullet fry have been stocked in the lake since 1928. There has been a progressive increase in the average total production of mullet from 0.45 tons (1929–1932) to 128.25 tons (1966–1969), and to 291.67 tons (1975/76–1978/79). Length and age composition of mullets in Lake Quarun were studied. The growth in length and weight of Mugil cephalus showed that the fish were in better condition in Lake Quarun than in other coastal areas of Egypt.It is recommended that studies should continue to improve survival of transplanted mullet fry into the lake, and on the artificial propagation of mullets on site.     

Chemical composition of alimentary canal contents of mullet (Teleostei: Mugilidae) caught in the Swartkops Estuary near Port Elizabeth,South Africa

Composition of alimentary canal contents (protein, ash, moisture and carbohydrate by difference) of four mullet species from the Swartkops Estuary, were determined monthly over a 13-month period. It was found that Liza tricuspidens consumed the most nutritious (highest protein and carbohydrate and lowest ash) material followed by Mugil cephalus, Liza richardsoni and lastly Liza dumerili, the most abundant mullet species in the estuary. It was also found that smaller specimens, irrespective of species, consumed the most nutritious food material. An attempt was made to relate chemical composition to the particular food and substrate preference of each species. Correlation coefficients between moisture and protein (positive), moisture and ash (negative) and ash and protein (negative) enabled the calculation of regression equations by which protein and ash can be determined from a relatively simple moisture determination.     

Culture of larvae of the white mullet,Mugil curema Valenciennes

Planktonic eggs of the white mullet, Mugil curema, were collected in Biscayne Bay, Florida, and the larvae were reared in four laboratory experiments. Static rearing systems were used and copepod nauplii and copepodites were fed to larvae. Larvae grew from 2.1 mm standard length (SL) at hatching to 28.5 mm SL (35.9 mm total length) at 36 days after hatching. No significant mortalities occurred beyond 12 days after hatching. At 20 days, survival ranged from 1.2 to 23.0%. Most larval mortality occurred when larvae sank to the bottom of the rearing tanks, a phenomenon previously reported for striped mullet, Mugil cephalus. Successful culture of white mullet could have potential for meeting the demands of the live bait market for recreational fishing in south Florida.     

Mugil curema in Argentinean waters: Combined morphological and molecular approach

A previously unidentified mullet species (Mugil sp.) from Mar Chiquita lagoon, Argentina, was compared with two candidate species Mugil curema and M. cephalus using 12 truss landmarks and three mitochondrial DNA genes (12S rRNA, cytochrome b and COI). Both procedures confirmed that the Argentinean fish were white mullet M. curema. Morphological comparisons clearly segregated M. curema from M. cephalus samples in PCA plot. Similarly, Argentinean haplotypes at each gene overlapped with M. curema reference samples while M. cephalus haplotypes remained distinct. These combined data provide a valuable baseline for further investigations on the geographic distribution of this commercially important species group.     

Estimation of gut contents of freshwater mussel, Lamellidens marginalis L.

This study examined the food organisms found in the gut of freshwater mussels, Lamellidens marginalis L. A total of 34 taxa of food organisms were recorded, out of which 30 taxa belonged to phytoplankton and four taxa to zooplankton. Both the groups comprised three families each: Cyanophyceae (blue‐green algae), Chlorophycea (green algae) and Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) constituted phytoplankton, whereas Euglenaceae, Chlamydodontidae and Brachionidae belonged to zooplankton. The total number of frequencies of phytoplankton (n=537) were almost nine times more than that of zooplankton (n=60). When blue‐green algae, green algae, diatoms and zooplankton (all the three families together) were tested for significant difference (P<0.05) following Duncan's multiple range test, the result showed only two groups. Blue‐green algae, green algae and zooplankton were not significantly different (P<0.05), forming group A, whereas diatoms were significantly different from others, forming group B. The present study showed that the maximum number of organisms that mussels feed upon belong to green algae, followed by diatoms, blue‐green algae and few taxa of zooplankton.     

Assessment of the removal efficiency of fish farm effluents by grey mullets: a nutritional approach

A field study was carried out to assess the use of the bottom‐feeding grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) within benthic enclosures as a means to reduce the benthic impacts of a net cage fish farm in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Five experimental 1‐m³ net‐cage enclosures were stocked with 12 grey mullets each (fish weights 50, 70 or 144 g). The enclosures had no bottom and the mullets had access to the enclosed organically enriched sediments and to particulate matter (PM) falling from the overlying cages. Sediment traps were used to quantify and qualify the PM falling from the fish farm to the sea floor. Simultaneously, a feeding trial was performed with mullets (50 and 70 g) in experimental tanks. In order to estimate the potential growth rate and to quantify energy and protein requirements, the fish were fed a formulated diet with known composition. After approximately 70 days at sea, mullets in the enclosures had used up all the available food in the sediment and gained up to 0.78 g day^?1 fish^?1. Applying the values for energy and protein requirements for maintenance and growth derived from the experimental trial, estimates indicated that the grey mullets effectively removed 4.2 g organic carbon, 0.70 g nitrogen and 7.5 mg phosphorus kg^?1 mullet m^?2 day^?1 from the organically enriched sediment. Thus deployment of grey mullets may be an efficient means to improve the quality of sediments below intensive net‐cage fish farms.     

Stock enhancement in a commercial mullet,Mugil cephalus L., fishery in Hawaii

Abstract This study showed that cultured striped mullet, Mugil cephalus L., released as juveniles can make a significant contribution to landings in an island commercial fishery. Following pilot hatchery releases from 1990 to 1993, striped mullet fisheries in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, USA, were sampled to recover cultured fish from the bay-wide catch. Direct sampling of 181 fishing trips resulted in recovery of 211 cultured striped mullet. By autumn 1994, cultured fish comprised 13.0% (2.8%) of the commercial mullet catch in Kaneohe Bay, and the percentage was increasing logarithmically. This study corroborated predictions from previous studies of juveniles about effects of release strategies on survival of cultured mullet. Following summer releases, recapture rates were strongly affected by fish size-at-release, with a critical release size of 60 mm total length (the smallest size released that was subsequently detected in the fishery). Over 30 000 juveniles stocked in 1990 (but not in a nursery habitat preferred by striped mullet) apparently suffered complete mortality.     

Identifying critical foraging habitats of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula,Mexico

• 1. The conservation of highly mobile and migratory species remains one of the most serious challenges to resource managers.
• 2. Intense mortality of immature green turtles has been identified at principal developmental–feeding habitats in Baja California, and is considered a great threat to the stability of the eastern Pacific population. Thus, coastal lagoons of the Baja California peninsula, such as Bahía Magdalena, have been identified as high priority areas for their protection.
• 3. Conservation efforts to date have focused on creating a sea turtle refuge in the northwestern part of the bay, but this area may not be sufficient for protecting all of the critical feeding areas used by green turtles.
• 4. The diet of green turtles was investigated through analysis of digestive tract contents from 24 green turtles that were drowned incidentally in fishing nets at feeding grounds in Bahía Magdalena and adjacent areas along the Pacific coast of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico.
• 5. Mean straight carapace length (SCL) differed significantly between localities: mean: 55.5 cm (range: 47.7–76.9 cm, n=11) in Bahía Magdalena; mean: 67.7 >cm (range: 49–87 cm, n=11) in adjacent coastal waters.
• 6. Green turtle diet consisted largely of marine algae and seagrasses, but food items varied spatially. The red algae Gracilaria pacifica, Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis and Hypea johnstonii were the most abundant diet items inside Bahía Magdalena, and the seagrass Phyllospadix torreyi was the most commonly ingested food in coastal areas outside of the bay.
• 7. Results indicate that green turtles utilize spatially distinct foraging habitats within this region. Therefore, it is recommended that any design of protected areas for sea turtles in Bahía Magdalena should consider a regional approach instead of a local approach, taking into account the most important feeding areas used by green turtles at different life stages.

Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Feeding ecology of fishes associated with Egeria spp. patches in a tropical reservoir, Brazil

Abstract –  This research characterised feeding ecology of fishes associated with patches of Egeria najas and Egeria densa , two submerged macrophytes, in Rosana Reservoir, Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Fishes were sampled using a 1 m² throw trap in patches of different macrophyte biomass and in three diel periods during a wet season. Fish diet (10 species) was primarily composed of autochthonous items (zooplankton, algae and aquatic insect larvae). Almost all intra-specific diet patterns had moderate to low levels of diet similarity, indicating a high variability in diet. Some species showed no diel patterns in feeding activity, whereas others were primarily diurnal or nocturnal. No differences in feeding activity were observed among habitats of medium and high macrophyte biomasses, and species tended to feed on the same items among these habitats. The most abundant fish species demonstrated low inter-specific diet overlap and appear not to compete for food resources. We suggest that Egeria patches are feeding grounds and shelter for small-sized fish species.     

The culture of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus Linnaeus) in ponds receiving heated effluent from a power plant

During 1972 and 1973, striped mullet (Mugil cephalus Linnaeus) were stocked into six ponds (located on the upper end of the Galveston Bay system, Texas, U.S.A.) receiving heated effluent. Fish were fed commercially prepared feeds. In 1972, mean daily weight and standard length gains in two ponds were 0.71 and 0.66 g and 0.65 and 0.59 mm. In 1973, mean daily weight and standard length gains in four ponds were 0.64, 0.36, 0.67, and 0.59 g and 1.03, 0.81, 0.71, and 0.67 mm. During the two year study, survival rates ranged from 50 to 85%; production, from 293 to 804 kg/ha. Food conversion fluctuated from 2.24 to 3.31; commercial feed costs, from $0.61 to $0.87 per kg of fish.     

Biology of juvenile grey mullet: A short review

Grey mullet include a number of species belonging to the family Mugilidae and are a typically catadromous group of fish with a very wide geographical distribution. Mullet are an important group from the point of view of culture, particularly in the tropics. Aspects of the biology of the juvenile grey mullet, from the onset of metamorphosis to a length of 10 cm, are reviewed. Migration, growth in the natural environment, food and feeding habits, environmental tolerances, parasites, diseases and body composition of the juvenile grey mullet are discussed.     

Efficacy of a formalin-inactivated Lactococcus garvieae vaccine in farmed grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)

Lactococcosis [Lactococcus garvieae (LG)] is one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases affecting grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) aquaculture. Therefore, the present research evaluated the efficacy of formalin-killed LG vaccine with an oil-based adjuvant in grey mullet under laboratory and field trials. The laboratory evaluation for LG vaccine and its cross-protection upon challenge in grey mullet found that single-dose immunization of formalin-killed LG with adjuvant resulted in 91.4% and 100% relative per cent survival (RPS) when challenged with homologous and heterologous strains. The levels of specific antibody titre and lysozyme activity increased significantly in the vaccinated group. Immune gene expression at 24 hr after challenge showed an increase in levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. A parallel field trial experiment was conducted to investigate the long-term effectiveness of the LG vaccine. Results demonstrated that at one month and three months post-immunization with heterologous strain, 100% RPS was recorded in the vaccinated group. The findings suggested that the formalin-inactivated LG vaccine strain (S3) protected grey mullet against LG infection for a period of three months.     

C,N and P regeneration by a detritivorous fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liza haematocheila</Emphasis> T. &; S.: effects of temperature,diet and body size

Detritus, as a nutrients reservoir, affects the trophic structure and dynamics of communities and supports a greater diversity of species and longer food chains. Detritivorous fish is an important organism to regenerate the nutrients from sediments. Despite the numerous studies on the nutrients cycle in fish, only a few attempts have been made to quantify the regenerating ability. In the present study, we chose the common detritivorous fish redeye mullet as the research object. Redeye mullet is also a common poly-culture fish in China. Diet, including a commercial diet mostly used in aquaculture and a home-made diet with contents close to detritus, was used and considered as a fixed factor. Temperature was also considered as a fixed factor as much research has shown that temperature has significant effects on fish metabolism. Moreover, body size was regarded as a covariate under analysis of covariance. Three key nutrients, namely carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, were used to measure the nutrient-regenerating ability of redeye mullet under laboratory conditions. The results showed that the nutrient regeneration in percent of the consumption decreased with increasing temperature. Carbon and nitrogen regeneration of redeye mullet fed on commercial diet was lower than those of the home-made diet group, while the opposite was found for phosphorus. In each group, the amount of regenerated nutrients increased linearly with body size. Fed on the home-made diet, 5-g fish at 25°C can regenerate 210.822 mg C, 37.533 mg N and 0.727 mg P per day.     

Food and feeding habits of ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus in coastal waters of south-western Taiwan

ABSTRACT:   The catch of ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus in the coastal waters of south-western Taiwan has significantly declined in recent years. To examine the effects of exploitation on the feeding habits of ribbonfish, 1570 specimens were collected on a monthly basis during March 2002–March 2003 from the landings by trawlers operating in the coastal waters of south-western Taiwan. The size of the ribbonfish ranged from 83–298 mm preanal length (PL), with a peak at 201–250 mm PL. Although they fed on shrimps and squid, fishes including Benthosema pterotum , Bregmaceros lanceolatus and Encrasicholina heteroloba were their main food items . In particular, B. pterotum was the most important food all year except during summer. No evidence of cannibalism was found in this study. No differences between day and night were found in the feeding activity of T. lepturus . However, B. pterotum and Acetes intermedius were the most important prey in the daytime, whereas B. lanceolatus , B. pterotum and E. heteroloba were at night. Feeding activity and the number of food items increased with increasing size of ribbonfish. Their feeding intensity in February to June, the main spawning season, was significantly greater than in other months. Changes in the food and feeding habits of this species before and after the recent period of heavy exploitation are discussed in detail in this study.     

Fertilizing fish ponds: II — Growth of Mugil cephalus in Egypt by pond fertilization and feeding

Growth of Mugil cephalus, indicated by increase in length and weight, was studied in seven ponds at Mex Experimental Station, Alexandria. The ponds were treated with different fertilizers and the fish were given supplemental artificial food.Different patterns of growth were studied and compared. The best and cheapest method of increasing the growth of M. cephalus in experimental ponds was to fertilize with superphosphate at a monthly rate of 20 kg. The increase in the growth rate of the fish in ponds receiving superphosphate, and superphosphate plus ammonium nitrate indicated by condition factor values was nearly double that reported by other investigators.     

饵料对稚幼参生长变色的影响

报告了藻粉,浮泥,人工配合饵料,混合饵料对稚幼长岛县牝一海水育苗场变色的影响。经３个胸月的投喂试验。结果：人工配合饵料组稚幼参体长,体重增长较快,纯藻粉组,浮泥组投喂效果都较差。藻粉中添加部分“海丰”牌饲料预混剂和３０％的浮泥,对稚参有明显的助长作用,日均增长,增重是纯藻粉组的２倍以上,且明显快于人工配合饵料组。     

滁州鲫鱼食性的初步研究

对滁州鲫鱼的食性进行了调查研究。结果表明:滁州鲫是一种杂食性鱼,它的主要食物组成是轮虫、枝角类、桡足类、单胞藻类和有机碎屑等,随着体长的增长,食物中大型浮游动物、水生植物所占比例明显增加。对食物的摄食量上有季节性变化,在夏、秋两季摄食量最大,春季次之,冬季最少。     

东海和黄海南部细条天竺鲷的摄食习性

利用2008年5月至2009年2月在东海和黄海南部4个航次大面调查所获得的细条天竺鲷(Apogonlineatus)样本,采用胃含物分析法,对其食物组成、摄食强度、食物多样性、营养级及其季节与体长变化进行了研究。结果显示,太平洋磷虾(Euphausia pacifica)和细鳌虾(Leptochela gracilis)是细条天竺鲷最主要的食物种类,它们的食物相对重要性指数百分比分别为46.08和37.46,质量百分比分别为17.90和21.98,个数百分比分别为27.80和12.80。磷虾、十足类、端足类、鱼类和糠虾是其重要的食物类群。不同季节和体长组食物类群的个数百分比及相对重要性指数百分比的差异均极显著,食物种类组成和优势种的替代也非常明显。细条天竺鲷的总空胃率14.01%,胃饱满系数最高76.69‰,平均11.26‰。胃饱满系数的季节差异极显著,而体长变化不显著。食物的多样性指数和均匀度春夏秋冬逐次提高。不同体长组的多样性指数以41～50 mm体长组最高,然后逐次降低;均匀度则呈现出先随个体的生长而降低,至体长61～70 mm后趋于稳定的状况。细条天竺鲷的营养级3.39级,春夏秋冬分别为3.31、3.59、3.39和3.33级。研究表明,细条天竺鲷属次级消费层的低级肉食性动物,以食浮游动物为主,兼食部分游泳动物;对食物有一定的选择性,主要食物优势度集中;食性随季节和体长的变动而变化显著。