Open AccessFEEDING HABITS OF Paralonchurus brasiliensis (PERCIFORMES: SCIAENIDAE) FROM SOUTH OF BRAZIL
Author(s) -
Mário César Sedrez,
Germano Henrique Costa Barrilli,
Evelise Nunes Fragoso de Moura,
João P. Barreiros,
Joaquim Olinto Branco,
José Roberto Verani
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta biológica colombiana/acta biológica colombiana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.184
H-Index - 13
eISSN - 1900-1649
pISSN - 0120-548X
DOI - 10.15446/abc.v26n3.80609
Subject(s) - trophic level , trawling , perciformes , sciaenidae , demersal zone , biology , bycatch , fishery , demersal fish , ecology , shrimp , bottom trawling , pelagic zone , fishing , fish <actinopterygii>
Shrimp trawling directly impacts target species and non-target species, altering micro-habitats and marine trophic webs. Thus, the objective of the present research was to analyze the feeding habits of Paralonchurus brasiliensis as a tool to evaluate the impact of trawling on the food chains in marine environments, in the South Atlantic of Brazil. One thousand and nineteen stomachs of P. brasiliensis were dissected after being captured as bycatch of shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, in Penha, on the north central coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The number of stomachs was enough to describe the feeding habits of P. brasiliensis, characterizing it as a carnivorous species and predominantly invertivorous. They also revealed that this species has a diversified and constant diet, with greater consumption of polychaetes, crustaceans, and ofiuroides, among other components of the macrobentos, all closely related to the sediment. It was also found that the target species X. kroyeri is not an important prey in the diet of P. brasiliensis, despite occupying the same habitat. According to the present study, P. brasiliensis can be characterized as a demersal-benthic species, predator, opportunistic and broad trophic spectrum. This work contributes to the understanding of trophic chains of the coastal ecosystems, using the P. brasiliensis as a model.