Open AccessTrophic ecology of Patagonian flounder Paralichthys patagonicus (Jordan, 1889) in the Argentine-Uruguayan Coastal Ecosystem
Author(s) -
Gonzalo H. Troccoli,
Andrés C. Milessi,
Noemí R. Marí,
Daniel E. Figueroa,
Agustín M. De Wysiecki
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
marine and fishery sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2683-7595
pISSN - 2683-7951
DOI - 10.47193/mafis.3512022010109
Subject(s) - trophic level , paralichthys , anchovy , biology , engraulis , predation , population , fishery , pelagic zone , flounder , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , demography , sociology
Food habits and diet composition of Patagonian flounder Paralichthys patagonicus (Jordan, 1889) were studied on the basis of stomach content analyses from 828 specimens (512 females, 304 males, 12 unsexed) collected during 16 commercial cruises between February 2009 and April 2010 in the Argentine-Uruguayan Coastal Ecosystem (34° S-41° S). A total of 272 stomachs (32.9%) contained food (184 females and 84 males), among which 20 prey taxa were identified. The most important prey category was pelagic fish, primarily Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita), followed by rough scad (Trachurus lathami). Evidence showed that females consumed a higher total wet weight of prey compared to males. Results also suggested a specialised diet over E. anchoita, across all sex and size groups. The estimated trophic level for the population of P. patagonicus was 4.16. This study suggests that P. patagonicus is a tertiary piscivorous consumer of the trophic food web in the region, and reveals changes in the prey consumption compared with previous studies.