Feeding Strategies and Diet Composition of Oil Sardine Sardinella longiceps Valenciennes 1847 in the Trawl Bycatches off Parangipettai, Southeast Coast of India

Abstract

The feeding strategies and diet composition of oil sardine, Sardinella longiceps caught during January to December 2010 by trawl net off the Parangipettai southeast coast of India was studied in detail. There was a preponderance of empty stomachs in all the months. Diatoms (66.5%) and zooplankton (18.5%) were the major components of the food items. Dinoflagellates (15%) also formed a major part of the stomach content throughout the year. The preferences for diatoms were found to be higher in male fish (40.04%) than in female (38.46%). Copepods were more abundant in male (11.08%) than in female (10.35%). But dinoflagellates were less abundant in male (9.44%) than in female (10.35%). The semi digested matter (41.46%) was higher in male than in female (43.32%). The monthly gastro somatic index ranged from 0.85 to 2.40 in male and 0.89 to 2.42 in female and values were generally higher prior to premonsoon months. It is obvious that composition and preference of food are the same in both sexes.