Few But Relatively Large Prey: Trophic Ecology of Chauliodus sloani (Pisces: Stomiidae) in Deep Waters of the Central Mediterranean Sea


Cite item

Full Text

Open Access Open Access
Restricted Access Access granted
Restricted Access Subscription Access

Abstract

The trophic ecology of Chauliodus sloani (Stomiidae) was thoroughly investigated by stomach content analysis for the first time in the Mediterranean. Overall 206 individuals (64.0–260.0 mm SL) were collected from 2013 to 2015. C. sloani can be defined a specialist predator which feeds exclusively on mesopelagic fish belonging to Gonostomatidae, Myctophidae, Paralepididae, Phosichthyidae, Sternoptychidae and Stomiidae. Gonostomatidae (%IRI = 26.02), Myctophidae (%IRI = 24.77) and Sternoptychidae (%IRI = 24.35) were important food items for C. sloani. Maurolicus muelleri (%IRI = 36.43), Cyclothone braueri (%IRI = 28.26) and Vinciguerria attenuata (%IRI = 12.97) were the most important prey. Cases of cannibalism were also observed. The examination of food size spectrum, in relation to predator length, demonstrated that C. sloani developed a feeding strategy aimed to maximizing energy input and based on the capture of few and relatively large prey: more than 50% of prey items exceeded the value of 20% for ratio between prey and predator size (SL) and the 5.4% of prey measured more than 50% of predator size. Differences in food composition across seasons were found; C. braueri and M. muelleri were more abundant in autumn, V. attenuata during spring. Prey items mainly belongs to weakly vertical migrating fauna, usually concentrated at 400 m Deep Scattering Layer.

About the authors

P. Battaglia

Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), BIO-CIT

Author for correspondence.
Email: pietro.battaglia@isprambiente.it
Italy, Milazzo (ME), 98057

G. Ammendolia

Freelance researcher

Email: pietro.battaglia@isprambiente.it
Italy, Messina (ME)

V. Esposito

Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), BIO-CIT; Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS)

Email: pietro.battaglia@isprambiente.it
Italy, Milazzo (ME), 98057; Trieste

T. Romeo

Freelance researcher

Email: pietro.battaglia@isprambiente.it
Italy, Messina (ME)

F. Andaloro

ISPRA, BIO-CIT

Email: pietro.battaglia@isprambiente.it
Italy, Palermo, 90100

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML

Copyright (c) 2018 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.