Hábitos alimentarios del mero Acanthistius brasilianus (Pisces, Serranidae) en el Golfo San Matías (Rio Negro, Argentina).

GONZÁLEZ, R.; RUBINICH, J.

San Andrés Isla, Colombia

Congreso; IX Congreso Latinoamericano de Ciencias del Mar; 2001

In this work we present the main results of a study dealing with the feeding habits of the patagonian grouper A. brasilianus in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. The objective was to characterize the diet and trophic preferences of this species through the analysis of stomach and intestine contents. Bimonthly samples from landings of the trawl fleet that operated in the San Matías gulf fishery between 1990 and 1993 were carried out. Stomachs and intestines from 869 fishes were examined. Frequency (Fi), numeric (Ni) and gravimetric (Pi) indexes, and feeding coeficient  (Q) were calculated. The crabs Peltarion spinosulum and Rochinia gracilipes were the preferred food (Fi = 44,39%) in the grouper’s diet. Fishes were secondary preys (Fi = 6,29%). Molluscs, polichaets and equinoderms were fortuitous preys.  In San Matías gulf,  the patagonian grouper present an euryphagic feeding regime, with a strong trend to the carcinophagy. Concerning the grouper’s feeding preferences, the relative abundance of crustacea species in the environment are reflected in the grouper diet in all of its distribution range.