Feeding ecology of the southern thorny skate,Amblyraja doellojuradoion the Argentine Continental Shelf

Abstract

The feeding ecology of the southern thorny skate,Amblyraja doellojuradoi, on the Argentine Continental Shelf was evaluated using generalized linear models.Amblyraja doellojuradoipreyed mainly on crabs (85.41% index of relative importance (IRI)) and to a lesser extent on polychaetes (4.98% IRI), teleosts (3.28% IRI), isopods (2.03% IRI), other crustaceans (1.52% IRI) and other invertebrates (2.78% IRI). As individuals increased in size, the consumption of crabs also increased and the consumption of polychaetes and other invertebrates decreased. The study area was divided into a northern (36°–43°S) and a southern (43°–50°S) region. Regarding the latitude of capture, it was observed thatA. doellojuradoimainly fed on crabs in the north and on fish, isopods and other crustaceans in the south. Females ofA. doellojuradoihad a stronger preference for fish and isopods than males. As to sexual maturity, immatures fed more on polychaetes and other crustaceans than did mature. The ontogenetic change in feeding habits could be attributed to body size and an increasing ability to capture larger prey, rather than to food availability. However, this point cannot be confirmed because little is known about the benthic fauna of this area.