© 2001 by ICES/CIEM International Council for the Exploration of the Sea/Conseil International pour l'Exploration de la Mer
Food habits of Dipturus chilensis (Pisces: Rajidae) off Patagonia, Argentina
a Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET) and Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Boulevard Brown 3600, (9120), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
b Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Boulevard Brown 3700, (9120), Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Correspondence to Mariano Koen Alonso: tel: +1 519 824-4120 ext. 2422; fax: +1 519 767-1656 ; e-mail: malonso{at}uoguelph.ca
The food habits of the beaked skate were studied utilising 274 individuals obtained from the incidental catches of the Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fishery. The most important prey were the Argentine hake, the southern cod (Patagonotothen ramsayi), the Argentine shortfin squid (Illex argentinus), the isopod (Serolis schythei), the "raneya" (Raneya brasiliensis, Pisces: Ophidiidae), and the Argentine anchovy (Engraulis anchoita). A total of 45 prey species was identified. No differences in the diet between sexes, but significant differences among size classes and between immature and mature individuals were found. Two size-related dietary shifts previously reported in this species, at around 35 cm and 85 cm total length were confirmed and related to changes in habitat utilisation. The first shift entails a major change from benthic prey (mostly crustaceans) to demersal-benthic prey (mostly fishes) and the second change from demersal-benthic to demersal-pelagic prey (increased consumption of Argentine hake and decreased consumption of southern cod). The second shift coincides with sexual maturation and may reflect a behavioural response to maturation.
Keywords: Argentina, beaked skate, diet, Dipturus chilensis, food habits, intraspecific diet differences, Patagonia, Raja flavirostris, Southwestern Atlantic Ocean
Received 5 April 2000; accepted 24 October 2000.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. Mabragana and D. A. Giberto Feeding ecology and abundance of two sympatric skates, the shortfin sand skate Psammobatis normani McEachran, and the smallthorn sand skate P. rudis Gunther (Chondrichthyes, Rajidae), in the southwest Atlantic ICES J. Mar. Sci., July 1, 2007; 64(5): 1017 - 1027. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.B. Scenna, S.B. Garcia de la Rosa, and J.M. Diaz de Astarloa Trophic ecology of the Patagonian skate, Bathyraja macloviana, on the Argentine continental shelf ICES J. Mar. Sci., January 1, 2006; 63(5): 867 - 874. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Gordoa, H. Lesch, and S. Rodergas Bycatch: complementary information for understanding fish behaviour. Namibian Cape hake (M. capensis and M. paradoxus) as a case study ICES J. Mar. Sci., January 1, 2006; 63(8): 1513 - 1519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|