Methods of stomach content analysis of fishes- Winter School on Towards Ecosystem Based Management of Marine Fisheries – Building Mass Balance Trophic and Simulation Models

摘要

The study of the feeding habits of fish and other animals based upon analysis ofudstomach content has become a standard practice (Hyslop 1980). Stomach content analysisudprovides important insight into fish feeding patterns and quantitative assessment of foodudhabits is an important aspect of fisheries management. Lagler (1949) pointed out that theudgut contents only indicate what the fish would feed on. Accurate description of fish dietsudand feeding habits also provides the basis for understanding trophic interactions in aquaticudfood webs. Diets of fishes represent an integration of many important ecologicaludcomponents that included behavior, condition, habitat use, energy intake and inter/intraudspecific interactions. A food habit study might be conducted to determine the mostudfrequently consumed prey or to determine the relative importance of different food types toudfish nutrition and to quantify the consumption rate of individual prey types. Each of theseudquestions requires information on fish diets and necessitates different approaches in howudone collects and analyzes data. Here, we outline qualitative and quantitative techniquesudused to describe food habits and feeding patterns of fishes.