Abstract
A study on seasonal and spatial variations of feeding habits and trophic guilds of dominant fish species in Pattani Bay during March 2003 to February 2004 was aimed at classifying diet composition, identifying dominant food components of each species, categorizing trophic guilds of the community and evaluating effects of habitat characteristics and seasonality on guild organization. Most fishes showed high food intake, fed on a diverse range of food items but relied heavily on calanoid copepods and shrimps. All species, with the exception of Epinephelus coioides, were classified as specialist feeders. Four main dietary guilds were classified. Three of these were classified as the guilds dominated by at least two major food items. Significant variations in trophic guilds of 28 fish species based on habitat types and seasons were also identified. They could be divided into three seasonal groups and three site-groups and a single site. Trophic organization for each season and habitat ranged from two to four groups. This information identifies groups of fishes that seasonally and spatially utilize different food resources within a semi-enclosed estuarine bay ecosystem.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amara R, Laffargue P, Dewarumez JM, Maryniak C, Lagadere F, Luczac C (2001) Feeding ecology and growth of 0-group flatfish (sole, dab and plaice) on a nursery ground (Southern Bight of the North Sea). J Fish Biol 58:788–803
Angel A, Ojeda FP (2001) Structure and trophic organization of subtidal fish assemblages on the northern Chilean coast: the effect of habitat complexity. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 217:81–91
Bachok Z, Mansor MI, Nordin RM (2004) Diet composition and food habits of demersal and pelagic marine fishes from Terengganu waters, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. NAGA Worldfish Center Q 27(3):41–47
Bayley PB (1988) Factors affecting growth rates of young tropical flood plain fishes: seasonality and density dependence. Environ Biol Fish 21:127–142
Blaber SJM (1997) Fish and fisheries of tropical estuaries. Chapman & Hall, London
Blaber SJM (2000) Tropical estuarine fishes; ecology, exploitation and conservation. Blackwell, Oxford
Clarke KR, Gorley RN (2001) Primer v5: user manual/tutorial PRIMER-E, Plymouth
Crowder LB, Cooper WE (1982) Habitat structural complexity and the interaction between bluegills and their prey. Ecology 63:1802–1813
Cruz-Escalona VH, Abitia-Cardenes LA, Campos-Davila L, Galvan-Magana F (2000) Trophic interrelations of the three most abundant fish species from Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Bull Mar Sci 66:361–373
Deudero S (2001) Interspecific trophic relationships among pelagic fish species underneath FADs. J Fish Biol 58:53–67
Garrison LD, Linke JS (2000) Dietary guild structure of the fish community in the northeast United States continental shelf ecosystem. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 202:231–240
Gerking SD (1994) Feeding ecology of fish. Academic, California
Hajisamae S, Chou LM (2003) Do shallow water habitats of impacted coastal strait serve as nursery grounds for fishes? Estua Coast Shelf Sci 56:281–290
Hajisamae S, Chou LM, Ibrahim S (2003) Feeding habits and trophic organization of the fish community in shallow waters of an impacted tropical habitat. Estua Coast Shelf Sci 58:89–98
Hajisamae S, Yeesin P, Chaymongkol S (2006) Habitat utilization by fishes in a shallow, semi-enclosed estuarine bay in southern Gulf of Thailand. Estua Coast Shelf Sci 68:647–655
Hyndes GA, Platell ME, Potter IC (1997) Relationships between diet and body size, mouth morphology, habitat and movements of six sillaginid species in coastal waters: implications for resource partitioning. Mar Biol 128:585–598
Hyslop EJ (1980) Stomach contents analysis – a review of methods and their application. J Fish Biol 17:411–429
Jacksic FM (1981) Abuse and misuse of the term “guild” in ecological studies. Oikos 83:87–92
Krebs CJ (1989) Ecological Methodology. Harper & Row, New York
Labropoulou M, Papadopoulou-Smith K-N (1999) Foraging behaviour patterns of four sympatric demersal fishes. Estua Coast Shelf Sci 49:99–108
Ley AJ, Montague CL, McIvor CC (1994) Food habits of mangrove fishes: a comparison along estuarine gradients in northeastern Florida Bay. Bull Mar Sci 54:881–899
Linke TE, Platell ME, Potter IC (2001) Factors influencing the partitioning of food resources among six fish species in a large embayment with juxtaposing bare sand and seagrass habitats. J Exper Mar Biol Ecol 266:193–217
Pianka ER (1980) Guild structure in desert lizards. Oikos 35:194–201
Platell ME, Potter IC (2001) Partitioning of food resources amongst 18 abundant benthic carnivorous fish species in marine waters on the lower west coast of Australia. J Exper Mar Biol Ecol 261:31–54
Platell ME, Sarre GA, Potter IC (1997) The diets of two co-occurring marine teleosts, Parequula melbournensis and Pseudocaranx wrighti, and their relationships to body size and mouth morphology, and season and location of capture. Environ Biol Fish 49:361–376
Root RB (1967) The niche exploitation pattern of the blue–gray gnatcatcher. Ecol Monog 37:317–350
Ross ST (1986) Resources partitioning in fish assemblages: a review of field studies. Copeia 1986:352–388
Sasekumar A, Chong VC, Leh MU, D’Cruz R (1992) Mangroves as a habitat for fish and prawns. Hydrobiologia 247:195–207
Schoener TW (1974) Trophic structure, reproductive success, and growth rate of fishes in a natural and modified head-water stream. Can J Fish Sci 39:968–978
Sheridon PE, Livingston RJ (1979) Cyclic trophic relationship of fishes in an unpolluted, river-dominated estuary in north Florida. In: Livingston RJ (ed) Ecological processes in coastal and marine systems. Plenum, New York, pp 143–161
Wootton RJ (1990) Ecology of teleost fishes. Chapman & Hall, New York, London
Acknowledgement
This research was supported by Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Faculty of Science and Technology, Prince of Songkla University. The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to Arun Loh-hem, Amran Diau-loh, Pun Yeesin, Apinan Nuimuang and the crew of Tanjonglulot boat for their assistance in field collection and laboratory analysis. Many thanks also to Zeehan Jaafar for her useful comments on the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hajisamae, S., Ibrahim, S. Seasonal and spatial variations of fish trophic guilds in a shallow, semi-enclosed tropical estuarine bay. Environ Biol Fish 82, 251–264 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9278-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-007-9278-6