Feeding ecology of the apron ray Discopyge tschudii (Elasmbranchii, Narcinidae) in San Jorge Gulf, Patagonia, Argentina

DELPIANI, GABRIELA; DELPIANI, GABRIELA; SPATH, MARÍA CECILIA; SPATH, MARÍA CECILIA; FIGUEROA, DANIEL E.; FIGUEROA, DANIEL E.

JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS

Lugar: Cambridge; Año: 2016 vol. 96 p. 1093 - 1099

0025-3154

The study of the feeding habits of elasmobranch populations should help to elucidate the ecological role of these fishes in the marine ecosystem. Feeding habits of the apron ray, Discopyge tschudii from San Jorge Gulf were investigated. It was evaluaded if the diet of D. tschudii changes with body size, seasons, maturity stage and sexes using a multiple-hypothesis modeling approach. Discopyge tschudii preyed mainly on polychaetes. The consumption of polychaetes was higher in males. Also, amphipods and siphons of clams were preyed more heavily in the cold season and Munida gregaria in the warm season. Stomatopods were more consumed with increasing body size. All prey categories were independent of maturity stage. We concluded that D. tschudii is a benthic feeder.