Isaac Scientific Publishing

Ecology and Sustainable Development

Diet Preferences of Small Fishes at Setiu Lagoon, Malaysia

Download PDF (371.5 KB) PP. 9 - 17 Pub. Date: August 1, 2018

DOI: 10.22606/esd.2018.11002

Author(s)

  • Zaleha Kassim*
    Department of Marine Science and Technology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, 25200, Kuantan Pahang
  • Muhammad Solleh Majid
    Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Department, Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
  • Nur Yahdiyani Mat Alwi
    Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Department, Faculty of Agrotechnology and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu
  • Hazwani Hanim Hasnan
    Department of Marine Science and Technology, Kulliyyah of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Jln Sultan Ahmad Shah, 25200, Kuantan Pahang

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate diet preferences of small fishes in a shallow coastal lagoon through analysis of their stomach contents. The 24 hours samplings was done during high tide at selected stations; mangrove areas and seagrass areas, both located at coastal lagoon of Setiu, Terengganu (N 5o41.75’ E 102o42’ to N 5o 42.5’ E 102o41’). The small fishes were caught using seine nets (0.5 cm2), while the zooplanktons were collected using Kitahara zooplankton net (110 microns) then were preserved. All items found in the stomach were compared with the composition of the zooplanktons obtained from the water samples. During the sampling time, 10 species of small fishes were caught. There were higher number of fishes and zooplanktons caught from the seagrass areas than the mangrove areas. Nonetheless, diversity of zooplankton was higher in the mangroves. Overall, the number of harpacticoid was higher than all other food items found in the stomach of fishes caught from both areas despite the high number of calanoid copepods found in the lagoon.

Keywords

Copepods, diet, Setiu Lagoon, small fishes

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