Diet, feeding, and niche overlap of west coast steenbras (Lithognathus aureti) and silver kob (Argyrosomus inodorus) in the northern Benguela.

ABSTRACT: In this study, we described and compared the diet, monthly feeding intensity, and condition of west coast steenbras (Lithognathus aureti) and silver kob (Argyrosomus inodorus) caught at a unique habitat in the northern Benguela. Stomach contents of 179 west coast steenbras and 114 silver kob caught from October 2020 to September 2022 were investigated. The peak in feeding intensity of west coast steenbras appeared to be opportunistic during winter and summer periods depending on food availability. The fish condition, however, peaked at the beginning (October) and at the end (April) of the austral summer spawning period, with the hepatosomatic index (HSI) at 1.5% and the condition factor (CF) at 0.022%. Seven prey taxa were found in the diet of west coast steenbras (bivalves, bony fishes, o

SUBMITTER: Shikongo AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11650930 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature