Ontogenetic shifts and feeding strategies of 7 key species of Gadiformes in the western Mediterranean Sea

Issue
Author(s)
Encarnación García-Rodríguez, Miguel Vivas, José M. Bellido, Antonio Esteban, and María Ángeles Torres
Cover date
DOI
10.7755/FB.119.1.7
Pages
50-65
Published online 13 April 2021
Abstract

The trophic ecology of 7 key species of Gadiformes, the silvery pout (Gadiculus argenteus), Mediterranean bigeye rockling (Gaidropsarus biscayensis), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), Mediterranean ling (Molva macrophthalma), greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), and poor cod (Trisopterus minutus), in the western Mediterranean Sea was explored. A total of 3192 fish stomachs were examined during 2011–2017 to investigate ontogenetic shifts in diet, trophic interactions (both interspecific and intraspecific), and feeding strategies. The results from applying multivariate statistical techniques indicate that all investigated species, except the Mediterranean bigeye rockling and poor cod, underwent ontogenetic dietary shifts, increasing their trophic level with size. The studied species hold different trophic positions, from opportunistic (e.g., the Mediterranean bigeye rockling, with a trophic level of 3.51) to highly specialized piscivore behavior (e.g., the Mediterranean ling, with a trophic level of 4.47). These insights reveal 4 different feeding strategies among the co-occurring species and size classes in the study area, as well as the degree of dietary overlap. Such information on ecological patterns within a fish assemblage, including species interactions, is often requested by those who aim to implement ecosystem management. Therefore, these findings can be used to improve management of sustainable fisheries in this region.

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