Diet and niche overlap of southern populations of brill Scophthalmus rhombus and turbot Scophthalmus maximus

J Fish Biol. 2011 Nov;79(5):1383-91. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2011.03116.x.

Abstract

The diets of adult brill Scophthalmus rhombus and turbot Scophthalmus maximus from the Portuguese coast relied mostly on fishes. There was a higher diversity of food items compared to their northern counterparts, and several of the identified prey are the first records of these species, including a brown alga, echinoderms, nematodes, oligochaetes, gastropods, bivalves and various fish species. The diet of the two species was significantly different and niche overlap was low.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diet / veterinary*
  • Flatfishes / physiology*
  • Food Chain
  • Gastrointestinal Contents
  • Portugal
  • Species Specificity