Feeding of 0-Group Mugilidae Juveniles in the Coastal and Open Waters of the Black Sea near Sevastopol and the Alien Copepod Oithona davisae as Their Diet Component

Abstract

The feeding ecology of 0-group Mugilidae juveniles in three locations within the Black Sea (open sea near Sevastopol, Kruglaya Bay, and Khrustalnaya Bay) was investigated in August-September 2013. The diet composition of Mugilidae juveniles varied between sampling locations and was different from data obtained in 1960s. Despite the difference in sampling locations, the number of consumed items, and size-weight parameters of fish, the Fulton Index were of the same order in the three investigated areas. Invasive cyclopoid copepod Oithona davisae contributed from 3 to 32 % of the diet items and should be considered as an important diet component of Mugilidae juveniles in different locations of the Black Sea near Sevastopol

Keywords

• Oithona davisae
• mugilidae juveniles
• feeding
• Oithona davisae
• alien copepod
• Black Sea