Length–weight relationship and seasonal variations in diet composition of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in the South-eastern Black Sea

ABSTRACT The sex ratio, length–weight relationship (LWR) and diets based on stomach contents of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) were investigated in the south-eastern Black Sea, Turkey. A total of 3507 females (7.5–24.0 cm), 1602 males (9.4–20.0 cm), and 78 unidentified sex (5.5–16.5 cm) whiting were caught during monthly sampling from February to December 2017. The sex ratio was dominated by females, and their ratio (♀:♂, 1:0.46) significantly deviated from 1:1. The LWR indicated a negative allometric growth for males, while females had a positive allometric growth pattern. The stomach content analysis based on the relative importance index (IRI%) indicated exclusively piscivorous diets dominant by Sprattus sprattus and Engraulis encrasicolus made up more than 91 IRI% of the total diets of M. merlangus. The modified Costello-Amundsen’s graphical analyses evinced the specialized feeding strategy of M. merlangus throughout this study. The contribution of these two preys to the diets of M. merlangus showed considerable seasonal variations that were totally dependent on their abundance. Sprattus sprattus contributed to more than 98% of the total diets during June, July and August, while in the following months, E. encrasicolus appeared to take its position. Based on fish size, a general trend of a rise in prey diversity was found with increasing fish size. Also, the contribution of S. sprattus tended to decrease with increasing predator size, which is replaced by a rise in E. encrasicolus contribution. Hence, larger M. merlangus predominantly fed on E. encrasicolus while smaller size predators preferred to feed on S. sprattus.