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Diet of the invasive piscivorous fish Fistularia commersonii in a recently colonized area of the eastern Mediterranean

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Abstract

The composition of the diet of the Indo-Pacific cornetfish Fistularia commersonii from the SE Aegean Sea is described. The stomach contents of 245 specimens collected between September 2004 and March 2005 were examined. Dietary comparisons were made reflecting the relationship between diet composition, time of year, and fish size. Correlation between predator length and prey length was significant. The diet of the blue cornetfish consists of 96% by number and 99.95% by weight of fish. Size classification and habitat of prey groups (benthic, supra-benthic, and pelagic) showed that with increased body length the blue cornetfish extended its diet to larger prey and more generalist feeding. Spicara smaris, Boops boops, and Mullidae spp. were the most abundant prey by weight whereas a variety of small benthic fish (especially gobiids) and newly hatched fish constituted the largest number of prey items. Length–weight relationships for the cornetfish were investigated.

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Acknowledgements

The first author would like to thank Dr Andreas Sioulas, Director of the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes-Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Dr Evaggelos Papathanassiou Director of the Institute of Oceanography of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, and Professor Rutger Rosenberg at Kristineberg Marine Research Station, for the opportunity to perform his Master of Science research at the Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes, as part of his marine biology studies at Gothenburg University. The authors are grateful to Professor Panos. S. Economidis for his encouragement and interest in this study, and to Georgios A. Hatiris and two anonymous referees for their valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Marine Ecology, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Göteborg University, Fiskebackskil, 450 34, Sweden

    S. Kalogirou & H. Wennhage

  2. Hydrobiological Station of Rhodes, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Rhodes, 85100, Greece

    M. Corsini & G. Kondilatos

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  1. S. Kalogirou
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  2. M. Corsini
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  3. G. Kondilatos
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  4. H. Wennhage
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Correspondence to M. Corsini.

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Kalogirou, S., Corsini, M., Kondilatos, G. et al. Diet of the invasive piscivorous fish Fistularia commersonii in a recently colonized area of the eastern Mediterranean. Biol Invasions 9, 887–896 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-006-9088-3

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