Forage fauna in the diet of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean

Vaske Júnior, Teodoro; Travassos, Paulo Eurico; Hazin, Fábio Hissa Vieira; Tolotti, Mariana Travassos; Barbosa, Taciana Martins

Abstracts

A total of 291 stomachs of bigeye tuna caught in the Western tropical Atlantic Ocean ranging between 60 and 195 cm fork length, were analyzed between October 2004 and November 2005. The vertical distribution of prey was studied in relation to their feeding strategies. A total of 83 prey items were identified of which 46 were fishes, represented mainly by brephoepipelagic, and meso-bathypelagic fishes; 20 cephalopods, 13 pelagic crustaceans, one tunicate, one heteropod and one pteropod. The Caribbean pomfret Brama caribbea was the most important food item, followed by other mesopelagic fishes such as Alepisaurus ferox, Omosudis lowei, Gempylus serpens, Brama brama and Diretmus argenteus. The squid Ornithoteuthis antillarum was the main preyed-on cephalopod, and the crustaceans Caridea and Brachyuran megalopae were also important food items. The feeding may occur continuously, all the time, or at least during the greater part of the day or night, as part of the feeding strategy to prey upon a vertically scattered small prey distributed in the water column. The relative equality in the proportions of surface, mid-water and deep-water prey organisms reflects the behavior of constant vertical displacement in the search for prey. Although the bigeye tuna prefers subthermocline layers, most of its prey items perform diel migrations and can be preyed on both near the surface and in deeper waters.

Bigeye tuna; Micronekton; Pelagic

Um total de 291 estômagos de albacoras-bandolins capturadas no oceano Atlântico tropical oeste variando entre 60 e 195 cm de comprimento furcal, foram analisados entre outubro de 2004 e dezembro de 2005. A distribuição vertical das presas foi estudada em relação às estratégias alimentares. Um total de 83 itens alimentares foi identificado dos quais 46 foram peixes representados principalmente por peixes brefoepipelágicos e mesopelágicos, 20 cefalópodes, 13 crustáceos pelágicos, um tunicado, um heterópode e um pterópode. A palombeta-do-Caribe, Brama caribbea, foi o item alimentar mais importante, seguida de outros peixes mesopelágicos como Alepisaurus ferox, Omosudis lowei, Gempylus serpens, Brama brama e Diretmus argenteus. A lula Ornithoteuthis antillarum foi o principal cefalópode predado, e os crustáceos Caridea e megalopas de Brachyura também foram itens importantes. A alimentação deve ocorrer de forma contínua, toda hora, ou pelo menos durante a maior parte do dia ou da noite, como parte da estratégia de predar sobre presas espalhadas na coluna d'água. A relativa equitabilidade de proporções de organismos de superfície, meia-água e água profunda na dieta refletem um comportamento de constante deslocamento vertical a procura de presas. Embora a albacora-bandolim prefira camadas subtermoclinais, a maioria de suas presas realiza migrações verticais diárias e podem então, serem predadas tanto próximas à superfície como em águas mais profundas.

Albacora-Bandolim; Micronécton; Pelágico

BACH, P.; DAGORN, L.; BERTRAND A.; JOSSE, E.; MISSELIS, C. Acoustic telemetry versus monitoring longline fishing for studying the vertical distribution of pelagic fish: bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in French Polynesia. Fish. Res, v. 60, p. 281-292, 2003.
BERTRAND, A.; JOSSE, E.; BACH, P.; GROS, P.; DAGORN, L. Hydrological and trophic characteristics of tuna habitat: consequences on tuna distribution and longline catchability. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci., v. 59, p. 1002-1013. 2002.
BOWMAN, T. E.; GRUNER, H. E. The families and genera of Hyperiidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Smithson. Contrib. Zool., n. 146, 64 p., 1973.
BRILL, R. W.; BLOCK, B. A.; BOGGS, C. H.; BIGELOW, K. A.; FREUND, E. V.; MARCINEK, D. J. Horizontal movements and depth distribution of large adult yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) near the Hawaiian Islands, recorded using ultrasonic telemetry: implications for the physiological ecology of pelagic fishes. Mar. Biol., v.133: p. 395-408, 1999.
BRILL, R. W.; BIGELOW, K. A.; MUSYL, M. K.; FRITSCHES, K. A.; WARRANT, E. J. Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), behaviour and physiology and their relevance to the stock, assessment and fishery biology. Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT v. 57, n. 2, p.142-161, 2005.
COLLETTE, B. B.; NAUEN, C. E. FAO Species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop., 125 p., 1983.
CORTÉS, E. A critical review of methods of studying fish feeding based on analysis of stomach contents: application to elasmobranch fishes. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci., v. 54, p. 726-738, 1997.
DAGORN, L.; BACH, P.; JOSSE, E. Movement patterns of large bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the open ocean, determined using ultrasonic telemetry. Mar. Biol., v. 136, p. 361-371, 2000.
DRAGOVICH, A. Review of studies of tuna food in the Atlantic Ocean. Bureau of Commerce of Fishery, Tropical Atlantic Biological Laboratory, US Fish and Wildlife Service., Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. v. 593, n. 117, 21p. 1969.
EVANGELISTA, J. V.; OLIVEIRA, G. M.; VASCONCELOS, J. A. Evolução da pesca de atuns no nordeste do Brasil. Bolm téc.-cient. CEPENE, v. 6, n. 1, p. 77-108, 1998.
HAZIN, F. H. V.; ZAGAGLIA, J. R.; BROADURST, M. K.; TRAVASSOS, P. E. P.; BEZERRA T. R. Q. Review of a small-scale pelagic longline fishery of northeastern Brazil. Mar. Fish. Rev. v. 60, n. 3, p. 1-8. 1998.
HOLLAND, K. N.; BRILL, R. W.; CHANG, R.; SIBERT, J.; FOURNIER, D. Physiological and behavioural thermoregulation in bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). Nature v. 358, p. 410-412, 1992.
ICCAT. International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS), Spain 2006.
LEE, P. F.; CHEN, I C.; TZENG, W. N. Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Indian Ocean. Zool. Stud., v. 44, n. 2, p. 260-270. 2005.
LEGAND, M.; BOURRET, P.; FOURMANOIR, P.; GRANDPERRIN, R.; GUEREDRAT, J. A.; MICHEL, A.; RANCUREL, P.; REPELIN, R.; ROGER, C. Relations trophiques et distributions verticales en milieu pélagique dans L'océan Pacifique Intertropical. Cah. ORSTOM, sér. Océanogr., v. 10, n. 4, p. 303-393. 1972.
MADUREIRA, L. S. P.; HABIAGA, R.; DUVOISIN, A. C.; WEIGERT, S. C.; FERREIRA, C. S.; PINHO, M. P. Prospecção hidroacústica sobre a plataforma e o talude da ZEE do nordeste do Brasil, no Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo e nos Bancos Oceânicos do Ceará. (Programa REVIZEE). Relatório Final LTP-DOC-FURG. 2005. 79 p.
MATTHEWS, F. D.; DAMKAER, D. M.; KNAPP, L. W.; COLLETTE, B. B. Food of western North Atlantic tunas (Thunnus) and lancetfishes (Alepisaurus). NOAA Tech. Rep., NMFS SSRF-706, 19 p., 1977. 19 p.
MOTEKI, M.; ARAI, M.; TSUCHIYA, K.; OKAMOTO, H. Composition of piscine prey in the diet of large pelagic fish in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Fish. Sci. v. 67, p.1063-1074. 2001.
MUSYL, M. K.; BRILL, R. W.; BOGGS, C. H.; CURRAN, D. S.; KAZAMA, T. K.; SEKI, M. P. Vertical movements of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) associated with islands, buoys, and seamounts near the main Hawaiian Islands from archival tagging data. Fish. Oceanogr. v. 12, p.152-169, 2003.
PINKAS, L.; OLIPHANT, M. S.; IVERSON, I. L. K. Food habits of albacore, bluefin tuna, and bonito in Californian waters. Fish. Bull. v. 152. 105 p. 1971.
POTIER, M.; MARSAC, F.; CHEREL, Y.; LUCAS, V.; SABATIÉ, R.; OLIVIER, M; MÉNARD, F. Forage fauna in the diet of three large pelagic fishes (lancetfish, swordfish and yellowfin tuna) in the western equatorial Indian Ocean. Fish. Res., v. 83, p. 60-72, 2007.
ROPER, C. F. E.; YOUNG, R. E. Vertical distribution of pelagic cephalopods. Smithson. Contr. Zool., v 209, p.1-51, 1975.
SMITH, M. M.; HEEMSTRA, P. C. Smith's sea fishes Berlin: Springer Verlag, 1986. 1047 p.
VASKE JR., T.; LESSA, R. P. Feeding habits of the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), in the Northeastern Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. Arq. Ciênc. Mar., v. 37, p.131-138, 2004.
VASKE JR., T.; LESSA, R. P. Estratégia alimentar do espadarte, Xiphias gladius, no nordeste do Brasil. Tropic. Oceanogr., v. 33, n. 2, p. 219-217, 2005.
VASKE, JR., T.; RINCÃN, FO. G. Conteúdo estomacal dos tubarões azul (Prionace glauca) e anequim (Isurus oxyrinchus) em águas oceânicas no sul do Brasil. Rev. Bras. Biol., v. 58, n. 3, p. 443-450, 1998.
VASKE JR., T.; VOOREN, C. M.; LESSA, R. P. Feeding habits of four species of Istiophoridae (Pisces: Perciformes) from northeastern Brazil. Environ. Biol. Fish., v. 70, p. 293-304, 2004.
VASKE JR., T.; LESSA, R. P.; BARBOSA, T. M.; TRAVASSOS, M. T.; RIBEIRO, A. C. B. Stomach contents of the Caribbean pomfret Brama caribbea (Mead, 1972) from stomach contents of great pelagic predators from Southwestern equatorial Atlantic. Bolm. Inst. Pesca, S. Paulo, v. 34, n. 2, p. 241-249, 2008.
ZAVALA-CAMIN, L. A. Distribución del patudo (Thunnus obesus) em el sudeste y sur del Brasil (1969-1977). Bolm. Inst. Pesca, S. Paulo, v. 5, n. 1, p.40-50, 1978.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
15 May 2012
Date of issue
Mar 2012

History

Received
05 Mar 2010
Accepted
07 Oct 2011
Reviewed
14 Apr 2011

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

[1] BACH, P.; DAGORN, L.; BERTRAND A.; JOSSE, E.; MISSELIS, C. Acoustic telemetry versus monitoring longline fishing for studying the vertical distribution of pelagic fish: bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in French Polynesia. Fish. Res, v. 60, p. 281-292, 2003.

[2] BERTRAND, A.; JOSSE, E.; BACH, P.; GROS, P.; DAGORN, L. Hydrological and trophic characteristics of tuna habitat: consequences on tuna distribution and longline catchability. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci., v. 59, p. 1002-1013. 2002.

[3] BOWMAN, T. E.; GRUNER, H. E. The families and genera of Hyperiidea (Crustacea: Amphipoda). Smithson. Contrib. Zool., n. 146, 64 p., 1973.

[4] BRILL, R. W.; BLOCK, B. A.; BOGGS, C. H.; BIGELOW, K. A.; FREUND, E. V.; MARCINEK, D. J. Horizontal movements and depth distribution of large adult yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) near the Hawaiian Islands, recorded using ultrasonic telemetry: implications for the physiological ecology of pelagic fishes. Mar. Biol., v.133: p. 395-408, 1999.

[5] BRILL, R. W.; BIGELOW, K. A.; MUSYL, M. K.; FRITSCHES, K. A.; WARRANT, E. J. Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), behaviour and physiology and their relevance to the stock, assessment and fishery biology. Col. Vol. Sci. Pap. ICCAT v. 57, n. 2, p.142-161, 2005.

[6] COLLETTE, B. B.; NAUEN, C. E. FAO Species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop., 125 p., 1983.

[7] CORTÉS, E. A critical review of methods of studying fish feeding based on analysis of stomach contents: application to elasmobranch fishes. Can. J. Fish. aquat. Sci., v. 54, p. 726-738, 1997.

[8] DAGORN, L.; BACH, P.; JOSSE, E. Movement patterns of large bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the open ocean, determined using ultrasonic telemetry. Mar. Biol., v. 136, p. 361-371, 2000.

[9] DRAGOVICH, A. Review of studies of tuna food in the Atlantic Ocean. Bureau of Commerce of Fishery, Tropical Atlantic Biological Laboratory, US Fish and Wildlife Service., Spec. Sci. Rep. Fish. v. 593, n. 117, 21p. 1969.

[10] EVANGELISTA, J. V.; OLIVEIRA, G. M.; VASCONCELOS, J. A. Evolução da pesca de atuns no nordeste do Brasil. Bolm téc.-cient. CEPENE, v. 6, n. 1, p. 77-108, 1998.

[11] HAZIN, F. H. V.; ZAGAGLIA, J. R.; BROADURST, M. K.; TRAVASSOS, P. E. P.; BEZERRA T. R. Q. Review of a small-scale pelagic longline fishery of northeastern Brazil. Mar. Fish. Rev. v. 60, n. 3, p. 1-8. 1998.

[12] HOLLAND, K. N.; BRILL, R. W.; CHANG, R.; SIBERT, J.; FOURNIER, D. Physiological and behavioural thermoregulation in bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus). Nature v. 358, p. 410-412, 1992.

[13] ICCAT. International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Report of the Standing Committee on Research and Statistics (SCRS), Spain 2006.

[14] LEE, P. F.; CHEN, I C.; TZENG, W. N. Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Indian Ocean. Zool. Stud., v. 44, n. 2, p. 260-270. 2005.

[15] LEGAND, M.; BOURRET, P.; FOURMANOIR, P.; GRANDPERRIN, R.; GUEREDRAT, J. A.; MICHEL, A.; RANCUREL, P.; REPELIN, R.; ROGER, C. Relations trophiques et distributions verticales en milieu pélagique dans L'océan Pacifique Intertropical. Cah. ORSTOM, sér. Océanogr., v. 10, n. 4, p. 303-393. 1972.

[16] MADUREIRA, L. S. P.; HABIAGA, R.; DUVOISIN, A. C.; WEIGERT, S. C.; FERREIRA, C. S.; PINHO, M. P. Prospecção hidroacústica sobre a plataforma e o talude da ZEE do nordeste do Brasil, no Arquipélago de São Pedro e São Paulo e nos Bancos Oceânicos do Ceará. (Programa REVIZEE). Relatório Final LTP-DOC-FURG. 2005. 79 p.

[17] MATTHEWS, F. D.; DAMKAER, D. M.; KNAPP, L. W.; COLLETTE, B. B. Food of western North Atlantic tunas (Thunnus) and lancetfishes (Alepisaurus). NOAA Tech. Rep., NMFS SSRF-706, 19 p., 1977. 19 p.

[18] MOTEKI, M.; ARAI, M.; TSUCHIYA, K.; OKAMOTO, H. Composition of piscine prey in the diet of large pelagic fish in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Fish. Sci. v. 67, p.1063-1074. 2001.

[19] MUSYL, M. K.; BRILL, R. W.; BOGGS, C. H.; CURRAN, D. S.; KAZAMA, T. K.; SEKI, M. P. Vertical movements of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) associated with islands, buoys, and seamounts near the main Hawaiian Islands from archival tagging data. Fish. Oceanogr. v. 12, p.152-169, 2003.

[20] PINKAS, L.; OLIPHANT, M. S.; IVERSON, I. L. K. Food habits of albacore, bluefin tuna, and bonito in Californian waters. Fish. Bull. v. 152. 105 p. 1971.

[21] POTIER, M.; MARSAC, F.; CHEREL, Y.; LUCAS, V.; SABATIÉ, R.; OLIVIER, M; MÉNARD, F. Forage fauna in the diet of three large pelagic fishes (lancetfish, swordfish and yellowfin tuna) in the western equatorial Indian Ocean. Fish. Res., v. 83, p. 60-72, 2007.

[22] ROPER, C. F. E.; YOUNG, R. E. Vertical distribution of pelagic cephalopods. Smithson. Contr. Zool., v 209, p.1-51, 1975.

[23] SMITH, M. M.; HEEMSTRA, P. C. Smith's sea fishes Berlin: Springer Verlag, 1986. 1047 p.

[24] VASKE JR., T.; LESSA, R. P. Feeding habits of the common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), in the Northeastern Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. Arq. Ciênc. Mar., v. 37, p.131-138, 2004.

[25] VASKE JR., T.; LESSA, R. P. Estratégia alimentar do espadarte, Xiphias gladius, no nordeste do Brasil. Tropic. Oceanogr., v. 33, n. 2, p. 219-217, 2005.

[26] VASKE, JR., T.; RINCÃN, FO. G. Conteúdo estomacal dos tubarões azul (Prionace glauca) e anequim (Isurus oxyrinchus) em águas oceânicas no sul do Brasil. Rev. Bras. Biol., v. 58, n. 3, p. 443-450, 1998.

[27] VASKE JR., T.; VOOREN, C. M.; LESSA, R. P. Feeding habits of four species of Istiophoridae (Pisces: Perciformes) from northeastern Brazil. Environ. Biol. Fish., v. 70, p. 293-304, 2004.

[28] VASKE JR., T.; LESSA, R. P.; BARBOSA, T. M.; TRAVASSOS, M. T.; RIBEIRO, A. C. B. Stomach contents of the Caribbean pomfret Brama caribbea (Mead, 1972) from stomach contents of great pelagic predators from Southwestern equatorial Atlantic. Bolm. Inst. Pesca, S. Paulo, v. 34, n. 2, p. 241-249, 2008.

[29] ZAVALA-CAMIN, L. A. Distribución del patudo (Thunnus obesus) em el sudeste y sur del Brasil (1969-1977). Bolm. Inst. Pesca, S. Paulo, v. 5, n. 1, p.40-50, 1978.

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Forage fauna in the diet of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the western tropical Atlantic Ocean

Abstracts

Publication Dates

History