Food categories reconstruction and feeding consumption estimates for the Sciaenid Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch & Schneider), and the congeneric fishes Stellifer rastrifer (Jordan) and Stellifer naso (Jordan) (Pisces, Perciformes) in the Caeté Estuary, Northern Coast of Brazil

Abstract

A quantitative method to estimate fish feeding consumption and energy intake from different food categories through the reconstruction of ingested preys based on hard not digestible body structures is presented. In order to establish the equations of the functional relationships between preys weight and body structures, stomachs of 1.086 specimens of Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), Stellifer rastrifer (Jordan, 1889), and Stellifer naso (Jordan, 1889) fish species were dissected. Consequently, preys reconstruction enabled a quantitative evaluation of food categories consumption. Results indicate a marked difference in diet composition and energy requirements according to fish species ontogenetic development.