Research Article, J Mar Biol Oceanogr Vol: 2 Issue: 2
Population Biology and Diet of the Pompano Trachinotus carolinus (Perciformes: Carangidae) in Caraguatatuba Bay, Southeastern Brazil
Márcia Regina Denadai1, Flávia Borges Santos2, Eduardo Bessa3, Wellington Silva Fernandez4*, Fernanda Scaloppe5 and Alexander Turra4 | |
1Centro Universitário Módulo. 11660-903, Caraguatatuba, SP, Brazil | |
2Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Departamento de Ciências Naturais, 45083-900, Vitória da Conquista, BA, Brazil | |
3Instituto de Ciência Naturais e da Terra da Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso. 78300-000, Tangara da Serra, MT, Brazil | |
4Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica. 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil | |
5Centro Universitário da Fundação de Ensino Octávio Bastos. Rua General Osório, 433, 13870-431, São João da Boa Vista, SP, Brazil | |
Corresponding author : Wellington Silva Fernandez Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Oceanografia Biológica. 05508-120, São Paulo, SP, Brazil Tel: +55 11 3091-6577; Fax: +55 11 3091-6607 E-mail: fernandez@usp.br |
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Received: January 21, 2013 Accepted: March 13, 2013 Published: March 20, 2013 | |
Citation: Denadai MR, Santos FB, Bessa E, Fernandez WS, Scaloppe F, et al. (2013) Population Biology and Diet of the Pompano Trachinotus carolinus (Perciformes: Carangidae) in Caraguatatuba Bay, Southeastern Brazil. J Mar Biol Oceanogr 2:2. doi:10.4172/2324-8661.1000108 |
Abstract
Population Biology and Diet of the Pompano Trachinotus carolinus (Perciformes: Carangidae) in Caraguatatuba Bay, Southeastern Brazil
This study evaluated the spatio-temporal distribution, population biology, and diet of the pompano Trachinotus carolinus in Caraguatatuba Bay. Samples were taken monthly from August 2003 through October 2004, by trawling in two previously selected areas (South and North). The North area is more exposed to wave activity and is influenced by a river, functioning as a small estuary. In contrast, the South area is relatively sheltered from wave energy and influenced to a lesser degree by smaller rivers. The fish were measured for length, and the sex and reproductive stage identified. The abundance of pompano was compared between areas and among months. The diet was identified and quantified. T. carolinus showed a very irregular temporal distribution during the study period, with 90.5% of the individuals occurring during the summer (December to March).