The Feeding Habits of the Bluespotted Seabream, Pagrus caeruleostictus (Valenciennes, 1830), in the Gulf of Gabes (Central Mediterranean)

Abstract

The feeding habits of the bluespotted seabream, Pagrus caeruleostictus, in the Gulf of Gabes (Southern Tunisia) were investigated with respect to fish size and season. Stomach contents of 1,452 individuals with a total length ranging from 5.7–49.2 cm, were taken at monthly intervals and analyzed (September 2005–August 2006). Among the stomachs examined, 951 (74%) were empty. The percentage varied very highly significant with season. The feeding habits of P. caeruleostictus, in the Gulf of Gabes were studied using frequency of occurrence, numeric percentage, percentage by weight, and an index of relative importance. A total of 25 different prey species belonging to 7 major groups (Crustacean, Teleostei, Mollusc, Annelids, Echinoderms, Plantae, and Tunicata) were identified in the stomach contents. The proportion of Teleostei in stomach contents increased with the size of the bluespotted seabream.