Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T17:59:49.409Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

An evaluation of resource partitioning between two billfish, Tetrapturus belone and Xiphias gladius, in the central Mediterranean Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2008

Teresa Romeo ,
Pierpaolo Consoli ,
Luca Castriota  and
Franco Andaloro
Teresa Romeo*
Affiliation:
ICRAM (Central Institute for Marine Research), Milazzo Laboratory, Via dei Mille 44, 98057 Milazzo (ME), Italy
Pierpaolo Consoli
Affiliation:
ICRAM (Central Institute for Marine Research), Milazzo Laboratory, Via dei Mille 44, 98057 Milazzo (ME), Italy
Luca Castriota
Affiliation:
ICRAM, Via Salvatore Puglisi 9, c/o Marbela Residence, 90143 Palermo, Italy
Franco Andaloro
Affiliation:
ICRAM, Via Salvatore Puglisi 9, c/o Marbela Residence, 90143 Palermo, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Teresa Romeo, ICRAM (Central Institute for Marine Research), Milazzo Laboratory Via dei Mille 44, 98057 Milazzo (ME), Italy email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The present study attempts to give information on the resource partitioning between the Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone) and the swordfish (Xiphias gladius). The contents of 53 T. belone and 95 X. gladius non-empty stomachs were analysed from specimens caught in the central Mediterranean Sea (Strait of Messina), from 2004 to 2006, by the harpoon fishery. Daily catches (expressed as number of fish) showed the contemporary occurrence of both species in the studied area then allowing direct comparison of diets. Epipelagic fish were the dominant prey (%IRI = 99.1) of T. belone. Eight families were identified among them, with the dominance of Belonidae and Clupeidae, which represented 40.9% and 36.8%, respectively, of the total preyed items in terms of %IRI and were mostly composed of Sardinella aurita and Belone belone.

Xiphias gladius preyed mainly on teleosts and cephalopods, which represented 59% and 39.1%, respectively, of the total preyed items in terms of %IRI. Eleven teleost and five cephalopod families were recognized among them with the dominance of Trichiuridae (IRI% = 30.5) and Ommastrephidae (IRI% = 27.6). The first was represented only by Lepidopus caudatus (IRI% = 30.5), while the latter by the squid Todarodes sagittatus (IRI% = 21.1) and Illex coindettii (IRI% = 6.5). Results of a multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated that the dietary compositions differed significantly between swordfish and spearfish. Diet overlap analysed with the Schoener and Horn indices showed low values (0.23 and 0.21 for the two indices) underlining a food partitioning that prevents competitive exclusion. Our results highlight a feeding strategy that is more related to the habitat of the species than to the food availability. In fact, migration patterns of the two predators are quite different. Swordfish show vertical migrations from 0 to 800 m while spearfish are characterized by limited migrations, ranging between 0 and 200 m depths. The observation of specific prey items in the stomach content of both billfish confirmed the bathymetric range of their migrations.

Keywords

resource partitioningbillfishTetrapturus beloneXiphias gladiuscentral Mediterranean Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 89 , Issue 4 , June 2009 , pp. 849 - 857
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Andaloro, F. (2004) Risorse biologiche, grandi pelagici. Studio sulla biologia e consistenza di popolazione di specie minori di grandi pelagici: Seriola dumerili RISSO 1816; Coryphaena hippurus LINNEO 1758; Euthynnus alletteratus RAFINESQUE 1810; Sarda sarda BLOCH 1793. Rapporto finale, MIPAF, 120 pp.Google Scholar
Bello, G. (1991) Role of cephalopods in the diet of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Bulletin of Marine Science 49, 312–324.Google Scholar
Bello, G. (1993) Tremoctopus violaceus (Cephalopoda: Tremoctopodidae) in the stomach content of a swordfish from the Adriatic sea. Bollettino Malacologico 29, 45–48.Google Scholar
Blaber, S.J.M. (2000) Tropical estuarine fishes; ecology, exploitation and conservation. Oxford, London: Blackwell Science.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cailliet, G.M. and Barry, J.P. (1979) Comparison of food array overlap measures useful in fish feeding habit analysis. In Lipovsky, S.J. and Simenstad, C.A. (eds.) Fish food habits studies: Proceedings of the 2nd Pacific Northwest Technical Workshop. Washington, Seattle, pp. 67–79.Google Scholar
Campo, D., Mostarda, E., Castriota, L., Scartabello, M.P. and Andaloro, F. (2006) Feeding habits of the Atlantic bonito, Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793) in the southern Tyrrhenian sea. Fisheries Research 81, 169–175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Canese, S., Garibaldi, F., Giusti, M., Romeo, T. and Greco, S. (2004) First successful attempt of swordfish tagging with popup in the Mediterranean Sea. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 11, 153.Google Scholar
Carey, F.G. and Robinson, B.H. (1981) Daily patterns in the activity of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, observed by acustic telemetry. Fishery Bulletin 79, 277–292.Google Scholar
Castriota, L., Scarabello, M.P., Finoia, M.G., Sinopoli, M. and Andaloro, F. (2005) Food and feeding habits of pearly razorfish, Xyrichtys novacula (Linnaeus, 1758), in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea: variation by sex and size. Environmental Biology of Fish 72, 123–133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Castriota, L., Campagnuolo, S., Romeo, T., Finoia, M.G., Potoschi, A. and Andaloro, F. (2008) Diet of Tetrapturus belone Rafinesque, 1810 (Istiophoridae) in the central Mediterranean Sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 88, 183–187.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cavallaro, G. and Lo Duca, G. (1996) Area di pesca del pescespada da parte delle marinerie della costa ionica siciliana. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 3, 341–345.Google Scholar
Clarke, M.R. (1986) A handbook for the identification of cephalopods beaks. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar
Clarke, K.R. and Gorley, R.N. (2001) Primer v5: user manual/tutorial PRIMER-E. Plymouth: Plymouth Marine Laboratory.Google Scholar
Cruz-Escalona, V.H., Abitía-Cárdenas, L.A., Campos-Davila, L. and Galvan-Magana, F. (2000) Trophic interrelations of the three most abundant fish species from Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Maxico. Bulletin of Marine Science 66, 361–373.Google Scholar
Dagorn, L., Menczer, F., Bach, P. and Olson, R.J. (2000) Co-evolution of movement behaviours by tropical pelagic predatory fishes in response to prey environment: a simulation model. Ecological Modelling 134, 325–341.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Metrio, G., Megalofonou, P., Tselas, S. and Tsimenides, N. (1989) Fishery and biology of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius, L., 1758) in Greek waters. FAO Fisheries Report 412, 135–145.Google Scholar
Di Natale, A., Mangano, A., Navarra, E., Schimmenti, G., Valastro, M., Bascone, M. and Asaro, A. (1996) La pesca del pescespada (Xiphias gladius L. 1758) in alcuni importanti porti tirrenici e dello stretto di Sicilia tra il 1985 ed il 1994. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 3, 346–351.Google Scholar
Di Natale, A. and Mangano, A. (1995) Moon phases influence on CPUE: a first analysis of swordfish driftnet catch data from the Italian fleet between 1990 and 1991. Collective Volume Scientific Papers ICCAT 44, 264–267.Google Scholar
Di Natale, A., Mangano, A., Celona, A., Navarra, E. and Valastro, M. (2003) Size frequency composition of the Mediterranean spearfish catches in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the Strait of Messina in the period 1994–2002. Collective Volume Scientific Papers ICCAT 55, 692–709.Google Scholar
Di Natale, A., Celona, A. and Mangano, A. (2005a) A series of catch records by the harpoon fishery in the Strait of Messina from 1976 to 2003. Collective Volume Scientific Papers ICCAT 58, 1348–1359.Google Scholar
Di Natale, A., Mangano, A., Celona, A. and Valastro, M. (2005b) Size frequency composition of the Mediterranean spearfish (Tetrapturus belone, Rafinesque) catches in the Tyrrhenian Sea and in the Strait of Messina in 2003. Collective Volume Scientific Papers ICCAT 58, 589–595.Google Scholar
Ferry, L.A. and Caillet, G.M. (1996) Sample size and data analysis: are we characterizing and comparing diet properly? In MacKinlay, D. and Shearer, K. (eds) Feeding Ecology and Nutrition in Fish, Symposium Proceedings, pp. 71–80.Google Scholar
Gerking, S.D. (1994) Feeding ecology of fish. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Gibson, R.N. and Ezzi, I.A. (1987) Feeding relationships of a demersal fish assemblage on the west coast of Scotland. Journal of Fish Biology 31, 55–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guglielmo, L., Marabello, F. and Vannucci, S. (1995) The role of the mesopelagic fishes in the pelagic food web of the Straits of Messina. In Guglielmo, L., Manganaro, A. and De Domenico, E. (eds) The Straits of Messina ecosystem. Messina, Italy: Symposium Proceedings, pp. 223–246.Google Scholar
Hacunda, J.S. (1981) Trophic relationships among demersal fishes in a coastal area of the Gulf of Maine. Fishery Bulletin 79, 775–788.Google Scholar
Hernández-Garcia, V. (1995) The diet of swordfish Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, in the central east Atlantic, with emphasis on the role of cephalopods. Fishery Bulletin 93, 403–411.Google Scholar
Hajisamae, S., Chou, L.M. and Ibrahim, S. (2004) Feeding habitus and trophic relationships of fishes utilizing an impacted coastal habitat, Singapore. Hydrobiologia 520, 61–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horn, H.S. (1966) Measurement of ‘overlap’ in comparative ecological studies. American Naturalist 100, 419–424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hyslop, E.J. (1980) Stomach content analysis—a review of methods and their application. Journal of Fish Biology 17, 411–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krebs, C.J. (1989) Ecological methodology. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 654 pp.Google Scholar
Labropoulou, M. and Papadopoulou-Smith, K.-N. (1999) Foraging behaviour patterns of four sympatric demersal fishes. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 49, 99–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langton, R.W. (1982) Diet overlap between the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua, silver hake, Merluccius biliniaris and fifteen other northwest Atlantic fin fish. Fishery Bulletin 80, 745–759.Google Scholar
Linke, T.E., Platell, M.E. and Potter, I.C. (2001) Factors influencing the partitioning of food resources among six fish species in a large embayment with juxtaposing bare sand and seagrass habitats. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 266, 193–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moreira, F. (1990) Food of the swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, off the Portuguese coast. Journal of Fish Biology 36, 623–624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakamura, I. (1985) Billfishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of marlins, sailfishes, spearfishes and swordfishes known to date. FAO Fisheries. Synopsis 125, 65 pp.Google Scholar
Orsi-Relini, L., Palandri, G., Garibaldi, F. and Cima, C. (1996) Swordfish maturity and growth. New observations in the Ligurian Sea. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 3, 352–359.Google Scholar
Palko, B.J., Beardsley, G.L. and Richards, W.J. (1981) Synopsis of the biology of the swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 127, 21 pp.Google Scholar
Peristeraki, P., Tserpes, G. and Lefkaditou, E. (2005) What cephalopod remains from Xiphias gladius stomachs can imply about predator–prey interactions in the Mediterranean Sea? Journal of Fish Biology 67, 549–554.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pinkas, L., Oliphant, M.S. and Iverson, I.L.K. (1971) Food habits of albacore, bluefin tuna and bonito in California waters. Fishery Bulletin of California 152, 1–105.Google Scholar
Potoschi, A. (2000) Biological aspects of Tetrapturus belone (Raf., 1810) in the Straits of Messina. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 7, 819–824.Google Scholar
Romeo, T., Ancora, S., Manganaro, A., Andaloro, F. and Fossi, C. (2001) The swordfish fishing by harpoon in the Strait of Messina. Rapport de la Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée 36, 318.Google Scholar
Romeo, T., Ancora, S., Consoli, P., Ausili, A., Fossi, M.C. and Andaloro, F. (2003) Approccio sperimentale al calcolo dello sforzo di pesca e delle catture per unità di sforzo (CPUE) della pesca al pescespada con l'arpone. Biologia Marina Mediterranea 10, 891–894.Google Scholar
Roper, C.F.E. (1974) Vertical and seasonal distribution of pelagic cephalopods in the Mediterranean Sea. Preliminary report. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union 39, 27–30.Google Scholar
Roper, C.F.E., Sweeney, M.J. and Nauen, C.E. (1984) Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries. FAO Fisheries Synopsis 3, 277 pp.Google Scholar
Salman, A. (2004) The role of cephalopods in the diet of swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) in the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean). Bulletin of Marine Science 74, 21–29.Google Scholar
Santos, M.B., Clarke, M.R. and Pierce, G.J. (2001) Assessing the importance of cephalopods in the diets of marine mammals and other top predators: problems and solutions. Fisheries Research 52, 121–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schoener, T.W. (1970) Nonsynchronous spatial overlap of lizards in patchy habitats. Ecology 51, 408–418.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sisci, R. (1984) La pesca al pesce spada nello Stretto di Messina. Messina: Sfameni ed., EDAS, 540 pp.Google Scholar
Smith, E.P. and Zaret, T.M. (1982) Bias in estimating niche overlap. Ecology 63, 1248–1253.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spartà, A. (1961) Biologia e pesca di Tetrapturus belone Raf. e sue forme post-larvali. Bolettino di Pesca, Piscicoltura e Idrobiologia 15, 20–24.Google Scholar
Stilwell, C.E. and Kohler, N.E. (1985) Food and feeding ecology of the swordfish Xiphias gladius in the western North Atlantic with estimates of the daily ration. Marine Ecology Progress Series 22, 239–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sturdevant, M.V., Brase, A.L.J. and Hulbert, L.B. (2001) Feeding habits, prey fields, and potential competition of young-of-the year walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) in Prince William Sound, Alaska, 1994–1995. Fishery Bulletin 99, 482–501.Google Scholar
Takahashi, M., Okamura, H., Yokawa, K. and Okazaki, M. (2003) Swimming behaviour and migration of a swordfish recorded by an archival tag. Marine and Freshwater Research 54, 527–534.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomas, R.F. (1977) Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27, 353–392.Google Scholar
Tibbo, S.N., Day, L.R. and Doucet, W.F. (1961) The swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.), its life history and economic importance in the northwest Atlantic. Bulletin of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 130, 1–47.Google Scholar
Tortonese, E. (1975) Fauna d'Italia: Osteichthyes. Pesci Ossei. Bologna: Calderini.Google Scholar
Tserpes, G. and Tsimenides, N. (1995) Determination of age and growth of swordfish, Xiphias gladius L., 1758, in the eastern Mediterranean using anal-fin spines. Fishery Bulletin 93, 594–602.Google Scholar
Vaske, T. Jr., Vooren, C.M. and Lessa, R.P. (2004) Feeding habits of four species of Istiophoridae (Pisces: Perciformes) from north eastern Brazil. Environmental Biology of Fishes 70, 293–304.Google Scholar
Vaske, T. Jr. and Lessa, R.P. (2005) Estratégia alimentar do espadarte (Xiphias gladius) no Atlantico equatorial sudoeste. Tropical Oceanography 33, 219–227.Google Scholar
Voss, G.L. (1953) A contribution to the life history and biology of the sailfish, Istiophorus americanus Cuv. and Val., in Florida waters. Bulletin of Marine Science 3, 206–240.Google Scholar
Whitehead, P.J.P. (1985) Clupeoid fishes of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the herrings, sardines, pilchards, sprats, anchovies and wolfherrings. FAO Fisheries Synopsis 17, 303 pp.Google Scholar
Wootton, R.J. (1998) Ecology of teleost fishes. Dordrecht, Boston, London: Kluwer Academic Publishers.Google Scholar
Zagami, G., Badalamenti, F., Guglielmo, L. and Manganaro, A. (1996) Short-term variations of the zooplankton community near the Straits of Messina (north-eastern Sicily): relationships with the hydrodynamic regime. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 42, 667–681.CrossRefGoogle Scholar