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Abstract

In this study, seasonal and size related variations in the diet composition of European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) were studied. A total of 545 European anchovy individuals were collected from commercial purse-seine catches in İzmir Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey) during 2005-2006. Overall, 498 of the stomachs were found with food items and 47 were empty. A total of 19 different prey groups were identified belonging to eight major systematic groups, i.e. Siphonophora, Polychaeta, Crustacea, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Chaetognatha, Appendicularia and Actinopterygii in the stomachs. Crustaceans (especially Copepoda) were the most important preys in terms of IRI% at all seasons and size groups. According to the Bray Curtis similarity index, while there were no significant differences in the diet composition among seasons, only the fishes bigger than 12 cm were seen different from other size groups. This study represents the most detailed information on the organisms in the diet of European anchovy from the Turkish coast of the Aegean Sea.