Preliminary study in diet composition of Indian pond Heron during breeding season

摘要

Indian Pond Heron ( Ardeola grayii ) diet consisted of Channa sp. (25%), Trachypauchen sp. (25%), Puntius mahecola (14%) and Mystus vittatus (8%).? It preferred medium sized prey of sizes 4-7 cm. In terms of biomass Channa sp. and Trachypauchen sp. constituted greater percent (51%).? Scavenging behavior of Indian Pond Heron was observed. The prey fish species such as Mystus vittatus and Etroplus maculatus are economically important species and are of human interest but considering size of fishes in observed prey item it is having negligible economic value.?? But, continued predation of a particular size class may later affect the population structure of the prey species.