Feeding of Pelagic Fish in Waters of Mauritania: 1. European Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, European Sardine Sardinapilchardus, Round Sardinella Sardinella aurita, and Flat Sardinella S. maderensis1

摘要

Feeding peculiarities of mass pelagic planktonphagous fish from Canary upwelling water and frontal zones of Mauritania were investigated: European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, European sardine Sardina pilchardus, round sardinella Sardinella auritaand flat sardinella S. maderensis. European anchovy and flat sardinella feed mainly on zooplankton crustaceous (89 and 57% of food mass), while round sardinella and European sardine feed mainly on phytoplankton (58 and 55%). Detritus and detritus-algal units compose a significant part in feeding of round sardinella, European sardine and flat sardinella young. This provides the reasons to suppose that detritus in pelagic water of Mauritania serves as an additional diet component next to phyto and zooplanktons. Sea grasses covering an area of 390-490 km2 of shallows in the Gulf of Arguin are the most probable source of detritus.