Cancer polyodon stomachs were analyzed to determine the dietary breadth and relative importance of prey species of male and female crabs at 2 study sites in La Herradura Bay throughout the year. Of 51 prey items identified, small crustaceans and molluscs of a wide size range predominated at both localities, followed by echinoderms, polychaetes, fish and algae. Cannibalism was high (10% of total crab production) and showed 2 peaks during winter and summer respectively, indicating recruitment pulses. Significant differences in diet composition were found between sexes, localities, seasons and sizes. Females consumed greater quantities of the deep-burrowing jackknife clam Tagelus dombei than males. Most egg-carrying females were found not to feed. In one of the study areas (characterized by a heterogeneous rocky-sandy bottom covered with algae), cirripeds Austromegabalanus psittacus and porcellanid crabs Petrolisthes spp. were of highest relative importance (6.96 and 6.38%), while in the other area (a homogeneous sandy bottom without algae) Tagelus dombei was by far the most important species (42.2%) followed by the gastropod Priene rude (2.82%). Small crabs (< 8.0 cm) ingested a higher proportion of molluscs at both study sites, while crustaceans had a higher relative importance in stomachs of large crabs (> 11 cm). Echinoderms and fish were absent in stomachs of small crabs (< 8.0cm carapace width). Estimates of annual prey consumption/area are given and the crabs' functional role in the shallow water community of La Herrâdura Bay is discussed.
Cerda G. and Wolff M. (1993) Feeding ecology of the crab Cancer polyodon in La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. II. Food spectrum and prey consumption. Marine Ecology Progress Series 100: 119-125. 10.3354/meps100119
@article{Cerda1993,
Title = {Feeding ecology of the crab Cancer polyodon in La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. II. Food spectrum and prey consumption},
Author = {Cerda, G and Wolff, Matthias},
Editor = {},
Journal = {Marine Ecology Progress Series},
Year = {1993},
Pages = {119-125},
Volume = {100},
Doi = {10.3354/meps100119},
Abstract = {Cancer polyodon stomachs were analyzed to determine the dietary breadth and relative importance of prey species of male and female crabs at 2 study sites in La Herradura Bay throughout the year. Of 51 prey items identified, small crustaceans and molluscs of a wide size range predominated at both localities, followed by echinoderms, polychaetes, fish and algae. Cannibalism was high (10% of total crab production) and showed 2 peaks during winter and summer respectively, indicating recruitment pulses. Significant differences in diet composition were found between sexes, localities, seasons and sizes. Females consumed greater quantities of the deep-burrowing jackknife clam Tagelus dombei than males. Most egg-carrying females were found not to feed. In one of the study areas (characterized by a heterogeneous rocky-sandy bottom covered with algae), cirripeds Austromegabalanus psittacus and porcellanid crabs Petrolisthes spp. were of highest relative importance (6.96 and 6.38%), while in the other area (a homogeneous sandy bottom without algae) Tagelus dombei was by far the most important species (42.2%) followed by the gastropod Priene rude (2.82%). Small crabs (< 8.0 cm) ingested a higher proportion of molluscs at both study sites, while crustaceans had a higher relative importance in stomachs of large crabs (> 11 cm). Echinoderms and fish were absent in stomachs of small crabs (< 8.0cm carapace width). Estimates of annual prey consumption/area are given and the crabs' functional role in the shallow water community of La Herrâdura Bay is discussed.},
}
TY - JOUR
AU - Cerda, G
AU - Wolff, Matthias
TI - Feeding ecology of the crab Cancer polyodon in La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. II. Food spectrum and prey consumption
T2 - Marine Ecology Progress Series
PY - 1993
SP - 119-125
VL - 100
DO - 10.3354/meps100119
AB - Cancer polyodon stomachs were analyzed to determine the dietary breadth and relative importance of prey species of male and female crabs at 2 study sites in La Herradura Bay throughout the year. Of 51 prey items identified, small crustaceans and molluscs of a wide size range predominated at both localities, followed by echinoderms, polychaetes, fish and algae. Cannibalism was high (10% of total crab production) and showed 2 peaks during winter and summer respectively, indicating recruitment pulses. Significant differences in diet composition were found between sexes, localities, seasons and sizes. Females consumed greater quantities of the deep-burrowing jackknife clam Tagelus dombei than males. Most egg-carrying females were found not to feed. In one of the study areas (characterized by a heterogeneous rocky-sandy bottom covered with algae), cirripeds Austromegabalanus psittacus and porcellanid crabs Petrolisthes spp. were of highest relative importance (6.96 and 6.38%), while in the other area (a homogeneous sandy bottom without algae) Tagelus dombei was by far the most important species (42.2%) followed by the gastropod Priene rude (2.82%). Small crabs (< 8.0 cm) ingested a higher proportion of molluscs at both study sites, while crustaceans had a higher relative importance in stomachs of large crabs (> 11 cm). Echinoderms and fish were absent in stomachs of small crabs (< 8.0cm carapace width). Estimates of annual prey consumption/area are given and the crabs' functional role in the shallow water community of La Herrâdura Bay is discussed.
ER -
