|
The food and deeding habits of Apogon quadrifasciatus, Letiognathus poretoniensis, Centropogon marmoratus, Monacanthus oblongus otisensis and Priacanthus macracanthus, taken at four Moreton Bay trawl stations during 1967, were investigated, using the technique of stomach content analysis. A visual estimation (volumetric) method was used in conjunction with a numerical. All species were found to be opportunistic feeders, the diets including a wide variety of crustaceans in addition to polychaetes, coelenterates, fish, and other items of lesser importance. Except for C.marmoratus, all species exhibited a recognizable diurnal pattern of feeding activity. Considerable temporal dietary change was evident during the sampling period, which was thought to have been the result of variation in the abundance of potential prey organisms. Each predator species was divided into two length-classes and it was evident that smaller fishes tended to consume smaller (and often different) food items than did the larger individuals.
|