Diet of three cryptobenthic clingfish species and the factors influencing it

Domen Trkov (Author), Danijel Ivajnšič (Author), Marcelo Kovačić (Author), Lovrenc Lipej (Author)

Abstract

Cryptobenthic fish are small benthic fish species that normally live in various hiding places. Due to their large numbers, they are very important for energy transfer to higher trophic levels. However, due to their small size and hidden lifestyle, knowledge about them and their ecology, including their diet, is still limited. Using a non-destructive method based on faecal pellets, we investigated the diet of three clingfish species, Lepadogaster lepadogaster, L. candolii, and Apletodon incognitus, in the shallow northern Adriatic Sea. To better understand the results, we studied the fauna of potential prey in the habitats of the fish studied and also took fish specimens to observe their behaviour in the laboratory. The three species feed predominantly on crustaceans, particularly amphipods, copepods, and decapods. The proportion of the different taxa in the diet depends on the species of clingfish, the size of the specimens, and the size of the prey. In addition, the behaviour of the fish, the home range of the specimens, and the availability of food played an important role. The presence of certain crustacean groups in the environment also determines the occurrence of clingfish of different species and sizes.

Keywords

kriptobentoške ribe;vrsta oprijemljive ribe;prehrana;prehranske navade;nedestruktivna metoda;fekalni peleti;raki;severno Jadransko morje;cryptobenthic fish;clingfish species;diet;diet habits;non-destructive method;faecal pellets;crustaceans;northern Adriatic Sea;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2024
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	NIB - National Institute of Biology
UDC:	574
COBISS:	210133763
ISSN:	2076-2615
Views:	47
Downloads:	14
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	Morske ribe;
Source comment:	Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Soavtorji: Danijel Ivajnšič, Marcelo Kovačić and Lovrenc Lipej; Opis vira z dne 3. 10. 2024;
Pages:	str. 1-22
Volume:	ǂiss. ǂ19
Issue:	ǂart. no. ǂ2835
Chronology:	Oct. 2024
DOI:	10.3390/ani14192835
ID:	25202145