Premium
Diet and feeding periodicity of Cox’s gudgeon Gobiomorphus coxii (Krefft) in a south‐eastern Australian stream
Author(s) -
Gregory M. P. M.,
Davis A. R.,
Ayre D. J.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01561.x
Subject(s) - benthos , predation , biology , invertebrate , fishery , sunrise , ecology , zoology , benthic zone , geography , meteorology
A 24 h study of stomach contents and simultaneous sampling of the drift and benthos was used to describe the diet and assess the prey selectivity of Cox’s gudgeon, Gobiomorphus coxii , within a small coastal stream in south‐eastern Australia. Prey items consisted entirely of macroinvertebrates with most being ephemeropterans and trichopterans. The greatest number and largest volume of macroinvertebrates were in the stomachs of fish collected just after sunset through until several hours after sunrise. Both the number of empty stomachs and proportion of digested material in the stomach contents peaked at mid‐day. Overall, it was concluded that G. coxii was a nocturnal feeder that specialized on benthos, although some evidence of opportunistic prey selection was apparent. Gobiomorphus coxii was also size selective, preferring relatively large prey from both the drift and benthos.