A study on the diet of Pampus argenteus in the major fishing grounds of Hormozgan Province

• Main Authors: Saraji, F., Zarshenas, Gh., Dehghani, R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Persian
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Biology; Fisheries; Copepods; Nematode worms
• Online Access: http://aquaticcommons.org/23647/; http://aquaticcommons.org/23647/1/85.pdf

Silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) belongs to Stromatidae family and is considered an important commercial fish found in some major fishing grounds of the Hormozgan province (Iran) waters. The stomach contents of 853 collected specimens were investigated from June 2001 to November 2002. The change in stomach content relative to the length classes and gonad stages, vacuity index, gastro-somatic index and frequency percentage of different food items were also studied. The diet consisted of a broad spectrum of food types, but crustaceans (especially copepods) were dominant. The next major food group was Bacillariphyceae (16 genera), followed by Cyanophyceae (6 genera) and mollusks. Other major groups were Nematode worms, Foraminifera and Dinophyceae (6 genera). Copepods were the primary and main food items with the Bacillariophyceae being the second most important prey. The relationship between stomach contents and maturity stages in females showed that the food take up increased during adult stages and then decreased during spawning periods. The vacuity index (CV) was calculated as 14.49, indicating the voracity of Pampus argenteus. The gastro-somatic index was estimated to be 4.5 based on monthly and maximum values during February.