Natural diet of Cephalopholis fulva (Perciformes: Serranidae) in the Abrolhos Bank, Northeastern Brazil.

Abstract

This study presents data on the natural diet of C. fulva in the Abrolhos Bank. Specimens were obtained in commercial fisheries landings between May 2005 and January 2007. A total of 372 stomachs were examined. Main categories of food items were Teleostei and Crustacea. Analysis of Similarity (ANOSIM) showed no significant dietary differences related to fish size (Global R = -0.019, p = 0.85) and season (Global R = 0.006, p = 0.42). In the study region, C. fulva may be regarded as a small predator of fishes and crustaceans being a mesopredator i.e. predator in the mid-trophic levels.