Comparative study on the feeding ecology of the White Seabream, Diplodus sargus, and the Black Seabream, Spondyliosoma cantharus (Osteichthyes: Sparidae) in the North Aegean Sea

Abstract

The Black Seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) and the White Seabream (Diplodus sargus) of the Sparidae family occur in the same habitat and the aim of this study was to examine the feeding ecology and reveal dietary overlap between these two species. For this purpose, individuals were obtained from commercial longline fishermen from Gökçeada Island, North Aegean Sea. Algae, hydrozoans and Cnidaria (Anemonia sp.) were the most preferred food items for the Black Seabream, whereas Gastropoda (Prosobranchiata), Brachyura (Goneplax rhomboides) and Echinodermata (Paracentrotus lividus) were most frequent food items for the White Seabream. Feeding activity and diet diversity were higher in summer. A clear dietary shift from smaller and semi-mobile prey (such as Gastopoda) to large and mobile prey (such as Brachuya) was found for both species with the increase in length. No dietary overlap was found between the two co-occuring species.