Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 June 2011
Specimens of twaite shad, Alosa fallax were sampled from commercial purse seiners and trammel netters in Izmir Bay during November and December 2007. A total of 287 prey items from 14 taxa from 208 stomachs were recorded. The primary food of twaite shad was found to be fish, especially anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, which was the most frequent (%F = 66.11) and abundant (%N = 63.64) prey item, and also had the highest percentage by weight (%W = 81.91). Decapoda, Isopoda, Ostracoda and Copepoda (Calanus spp., Candocia armata, Temora stylifera from Calanoida and Corycaeus spp. from Cyclopodia), were recorded occasionally with low values for all indices. The study showed that in the Aegean Sea Alosa fallax is a predator of small pelagic fish, E. encrasicolus, A. boyeri, S. pilchardus, and some crustaceans. Benthopelagic P. acarne and demersal S. hepatus were first recorded in diet of twaite shad.