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Observations on the trophodynamics of sawtooth barracuda, Sphyraena putnamae from the Bay of Bengal, northern Indian Ocean

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 January 2022

Shubhadeep Ghosh Open the ORCID record for Shubhadeep Ghosh [Opens in a new window] ,
Munivenkatappa Manas Hoshalli ,
Prathibha Rohit ,
Satishkumar Mamidi ,
Median Abdussamad Eruppakkottil Open the ORCID record for Median Abdussamad Eruppakkottil [Opens in a new window]  and
Gopalakrishnan Achamveetil
Shubhadeep Ghosh*
Affiliation:
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003, India
Munivenkatappa Manas Hoshalli
Affiliation:
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003, India
Prathibha Rohit
Affiliation:
Mangalore Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mangalore, Karnataka 575001, India
Satishkumar Mamidi
Affiliation:
Visakhapatnam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530003, India
Median Abdussamad Eruppakkottil
Affiliation:
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala 682018, India
Gopalakrishnan Achamveetil
Affiliation:
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, Kerala 682018, India
*
Author for correspondence: Shubhadeep Ghosh, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Marine capture of Sphyraena putnamae along western Bay of Bengal has been increasing. Owing to scarcity of information available on feeding dynamics globally, the present study was conducted using 763 individuals captured during 2017–19, to decipher trophic ecology and relationships. Of the individuals analysed, 54.8% had their stomachs either empty or with trace amounts of food, 27.3% had part-full stomachs and 18.0% had full stomachs. Stomach vacuity and fullness as well as predator–prey weight ratio varied with increase in body size, implying higher feeding intensity in large-sized fishes. Feeding activity was highest during July–November and lowest during March–April. The species is an opportunistic piscivorous pelagic predator that feeds on teleosts (>85%) and cephalopods. Sardines were the major prey, followed by whitebait, squid, bigeye scad, Indian scad, silverbellies and Indian mackerel. Diet contents were similar between sexes (82.17%); however, it varied among seasons (56.86–69.85%). Shifts in prey preferences from sardines, squid and bigeye scad to ribbonfish, shad, grunter, Indian mackerel, horse mackerel and Acetes were observed with increase in fish size, and diet varied between individuals sized <60.0 and >60.0 cm. Trophic level value was 3.51 ± 0.13 and Levin's Standardized Niche Breadth Index was 0.21. Dietary niche breadth varied across seasons and sizes, with higher values during summer and winter (0.36–0.41) and in fish measuring >45.0 cm (0.50–0.68), which implies generalized feeding behaviour. The present study represents the first detailed report on the diet of S. putnamae and will provide a substantial contribution to stock management through understanding of trophic interactions.

Keywords

Feeding intensityfeeding preferencefeeding strategyindex of relative importancesawtooth barracudaSphyraena putnamae
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 101 , Issue 6 , September 2021 , pp. 969 - 981
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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