Feeding Regime of Whiting (Gadus merlangus euxinus Nordmann, 1840) In Turkish Middle Black Sea Coast

Abstract

In this study, stomach contents of 716 whiting were examined caught from the Turkey Middle Black Sea Coast between December 2001 and April 2003. The analyses of feeding regime of whiting were made according to the seasons and age groups. The Frequency of Occurrence, The Numerical Occurrence Windell and Bowen (1978) and Geometric Index of Importance (GII) Assis (1996) methods were used. Analysis of stomach contents showed that whiting feed mainly on the fishes and crustacean, mostly anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) with yearly find frequency as (F%) 23.04. The occurrence of the quantity and type of food items in the stomach was related to their seasonal abundance. It was observed that whiting consumed intensively during spring and summer. Anchovy as primarily prey; whiting, horse mackerel and shrimps as secondary prey; sprats and gobies as thirdly prey; pipefish and isopoda sp. as occasional prey were determined according to geometric index of importance (GII).