Peggy Loor Andrade, Jonathan Pincay Espinoza, Maribel Carrera-Fernández, Rigoberto Rosas-Luis,
2018
Publicado con arbitraje
Feeding habits of billfishes (Carangaria: Istiophoriformes) in the Ecuadorian Pacific Ocean
15
1679-6225
CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA
BIOLOGIA ANIMAL Y ZOOLOGIA
ECOLOGIA ANIMAL
The feeding habits of Makaira nigricans, Kajikia audax, Istiophorus platypterus (Istiophoridae), and Xiphias gladius Xiphiidae) in the southeast Pacific Ocean were examined in Manta and Santa Rosa, Ecuador. This study describes the diets of these billfish species, evaluates dietary differences between species, and assesses seasonal differences in diet. A total of 274 M. nigricans, 321 K. audax, 267 I. platypterus, and 252 X. gladius were collected between February 2014 and April 2015. The scombrid Auxis spp. was the most important prey for M. nigricans, K. audax and I. platypterus, while the squid Dosidicus gigas was the most important prey for X. gladius. The results of the ANOSIM confirmed significant differences in feeding habits between the members of the family Istiophoridae and X. gladius. Seasonal differences for I. platypterus also were observed. Billfishes are specialist consumers with a narrow niche breadth (Ba: M. nigricans and K. audax=0.1, I. platypterus=0.05, and X. gladius=0.04).