Studies on the biology of young grey mullet, Mugil cephalus L. II. Food and Feeding

Silva, S.S. De; Wijeyaratne, M.J.S.

doi:10.1016/0044-8486(77)90183-1

Cited by 51 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…These results conflict with previous studies which report M. cephalus to be primarily carnivorous at these sizes (Ebeling 1957, Odum 1970, Blaber & Whitfield 1977, De Silva 1980, Loftus et al 1983). However, De Silva & Wijeyaratne (1977) obtained similar results for mullet 2&55 mm TL. The first ontogenetic trophic unit includes mullet 2&25 mm SL which are 88% similar in diet to fish 25-30 mm SL (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

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Ontogenetic dietary shifts and morphological correlates in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

Eggold

Motta

1992

Environ Biol Fish

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SynopsisOntogenetic dietary shifts are well studied in fishes. However, these shifts are rarely correlated with habitat and morphology. This study investigates: (1) ontogenetic dietary changes in mullet; and if dietary shifts do occur (2) whether they are correlated with feeding location, feeding behavior andlor feeding morphology. Stomach contents from eight size classes, each with 25 individuals, were analyzed using a gravimetric sieve fractionation procedure, Czechanowski's Quantitative Index and cluster analysis. Core samples (5 mm deep) were also analyzed in the same manner. Morphological characters were measured to detect differences among the size classes. Cluster analysis showed three distinct trophic units for Mugil cephalus in Cross Bayou: (1) 20.0 mm standard length -30.0 mm SL; (2) 30.0 mm SL -40.0 mm SL; and (3) 40.0 mm SL -> 100 mm SL. Comparison of the gut contents to the sediment contents for each size class showed an increase in similarity as the fish grew. Mullet gut contents from fish 20-25 mm SL were only 45% similar based on the weights of the prey items to the sediment subsample prey items, while stomach contents from fish > 100 mm SL were 84% similar to the sediment subsample contents. Gill raker length and interraker spacing of four gill arches were allometric with respect to standard length. Prey particle size within size classes appeared to be more correlated with feeding behavior than gill interraker spacing because smaller particles than predicted by the interraker spacing were ingested. It is suggested that smaller fish may be browsing more selectively than larger fish which graze.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…4). Benthic grazing is typical of mullet in this size range and larger (Odum 1968, Hickling 1970, Blaber 1976, Blaber & Whitfield 1977, De Silva & Wijeyaratne 1977, Marais 1980, Das & Chowdhury 1983, Romer & McLachlan 1986. Fish 50-70 mm SL and > 100 mm SL are 97% similar in diet composition.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Ontogenetic dietary shifts and morphological correlates in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

Eggold

Motta

1992

Environ Biol Fish

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“…These experimentally fed plastics were at the lower end of the size range found in our samples. Mugil cephalus may change their diet as they grow, with increasing amounts of detritus and sediment in the guts of larger fish (De Silva and Wijeyaratne 1977), which may affect the type and quantity of plastic ingested. Boerger et al (2010) recorded a higher number of plastic particles on average in larger fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plastic ingestion by estuarine mulletMugil cephalus(Mugilidae) in an urban harbour, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Naidoo

Smit

Glassom

2016

African Journal of Marine Science

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Coastal urban environments have high plastic pollution levels, and hence interactions between plastic debris and marine life are frequent. We report on plastic ingestion by mullet Mugil cephalus in Durban Harbour, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Of 70 mullet (13.0-19.5 cm total length), 73% had plastic particles in their guts, with a mean of 3.8 particles per fish (SD 4.7). Plastic ingestion showed no relation to digestive tract content or fish length. White and clear plastic fibres were ingested most commonly. This urban population of M. cephalus had a higher incidence of plastic ingestion than has been reported in studies on fish from other coastal areas or the oceanic environment.

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“…The herbivorous feeding habit of adult mullets outside the West African sub-region have been reported by Blaber (1977), De Silva & Wijeyaratne (1977), Whitfield & Blaber (1978), Marais (1980) and Minckley (1982). The ecological importance of such a diet has been recognized by Odum (1970), who considered mullets as important in providing the herbivore link in the food chain in estuaries and shallow coastal waters.…”

Section: Intestine Length To Standard Length Ratio (Relative Gut Length)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies by other researchers, e.g. Blabber (1976) on L. macrolepis from the St Lucia Lake system in South Africa, De Silva & Wijeyaratne (1977) on M. cephalus from the Negombo Lagoon in Sri Lanka and Collins (1981) on M. cephalus from Florida showed that these species fed little at night.…”

Section: Intestine Length To Standard Length Ratio (Relative Gut Length)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Food and feeding habits of grey Mullets (Pisces: Mugilidae) in two estuaries in Ghana

Dankwa¹,

Blay²,

Yankson³

2009

West African Journal of Applied Ecology

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Food and feeding habits of grey mullets (Mugilidae) in the River Volta and River Pra estuaries in Ghana were studied between February 1997 and July 1998 as part of efforts to encourage their culture. Stomach contents of fish samples, obtained with a cast net and a drag net, were analysed using the 'points' and frequency of occurrence method. Diatoms, detrital material and sand particles were the major items in the stomachs of all the species from the two estuaries. Their diet did not show any substantial seasonality, neither did it change with size. The various species ingested sand particles of selected range with Liza dumerilii ingesting the widest range in both estuaries, 41.2-1195.8 µm in the Volta estuary, and 33.0-1649.0 µm in the Pra estuary. Species that ingested the same modal size of sand particles showed preferences for different food items. The shortest mean relative gut length (gut length to body length ratio) of 1.82 and 1.72 were calculated for L. dumerilii in the Volta and Pra estuaries, respectively, while the longest mean relative gut length of 4.56 was calculated for Mugil cephalus in the Volta estuary and 4.33 for Liza grandisquamis in the Pra estuary. All the species showed a diurnal feeding habit, with the main feeding period occurring between 08.00 and 12.00 h. The peak feeding time, however, differed among the species.

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Studies on the biology of young grey mullet, Mugil cephalus L. II. Food and Feeding

Cited by 51 publications

References 9 publications

Ontogenetic dietary shifts and morphological correlates in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

Ontogenetic dietary shifts and morphological correlates in striped mullet, Mugil cephalus

Plastic ingestion by estuarine mulletMugil cephalus(Mugilidae) in an urban harbour, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Food and feeding habits of grey Mullets (Pisces: Mugilidae) in two estuaries in Ghana

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