Food and feeding habit of taiwan mauxia shrimp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acetes intermedius</Emphasis> in the coastal waters of Southwestern Taiwan

The stomach contents and feeding habits of the Taiwan mauxia shrimp Acetes intermedius were examined based on 420 specimens collected in the costal waters of south-western Taiwan. Two 24-h periodic samplings of specimens were completed to describe the diel feeding periodicity of this species. Phytoplankton was the main food for the Taiwan mauxia shrimp, and the dinoflagellates was the most important food. They also fed on zooplankton and amorphous materials. Their diet changed with the seasons. The feeding activity of this species mainly occurred at night. The results obtained in this study supported the hypothesis that A. intermedius performs a nocturnal vertical migration to avoid predators and to allow for safe feeding.