Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis

Feeding habits and dietary preferences of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) were investigated in Sıddıklı Dam Lake through the examination of 200 individuals. The results revealed that the species predominantly exhibited piscivorous feeding characteristics, with Tinca tinca (IRI% = 78.93) identified as...

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Main Authors: Ramazan Yazici, Mahmut Yilmaz, Okan Yazicioğlu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Aquaculture Nutrition
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/anu/4619857
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author Ramazan Yazici
Mahmut Yilmaz
Okan Yazicioğlu
author_facet Ramazan Yazici
Mahmut Yilmaz
Okan Yazicioğlu
author_sort Ramazan Yazici
collection DOAJ
description Feeding habits and dietary preferences of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) were investigated in Sıddıklı Dam Lake through the examination of 200 individuals. The results revealed that the species predominantly exhibited piscivorous feeding characteristics, with Tinca tinca (IRI% = 78.93) identified as the primary food source. The food items in the stomach showed a wide spectrum, ranging from benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, molluscs, amphibians, and mammals to fishes. The study not only assessed the general food composition of wels catfish but also delved into the seasonal variations in diet composition. It was found that the stomach fullness index (FI) varied significantly among the seasons, with Winter showing the highest values (0.827). On the other hand, the lowest value was detected in the Autumn season (0.480). Age and length groups were also considered, with notable differences in stomach FI and diet composition observed across different stages of growth. Food preference analysis highlighted the selective tendencies of wels catfish towards certain food types, with Atherina boyeri and T. tinca emerging as preferred choices in different size groups. For small, medium, and large length individuals, the most preferred prey fish were A. boyeri (Va = 0.39518, χ2 = 31.2336), T. tinca (Va = 0.63564, χ2 = 82.8073) and T. tinca (Va = 0.666495, χ2 = 88.4307), respectively. The findings provide valuable insights into the feeding behaviour of wels catfish, underscoring the importance of understanding these patterns for effective management and conservation efforts. Further research should aim to explore the ecological implications of these feeding habits on the overall aquatic ecosystem.
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spelling doaj-art-156c59bd14bb4eb68e3d9a4f0bf161f72025-08-20T02:13:53ZengWileyAquaculture Nutrition1365-20952025-01-01202510.1155/anu/4619857Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet AnalysisRamazan Yazici0Mahmut Yilmaz1Okan Yazicioğlu2Laboratory and Veterinary Health ProgramAgricultural Biotechnology DepartmentDepartment of Plant and Animal ProductionFeeding habits and dietary preferences of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) were investigated in Sıddıklı Dam Lake through the examination of 200 individuals. The results revealed that the species predominantly exhibited piscivorous feeding characteristics, with Tinca tinca (IRI% = 78.93) identified as the primary food source. The food items in the stomach showed a wide spectrum, ranging from benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, molluscs, amphibians, and mammals to fishes. The study not only assessed the general food composition of wels catfish but also delved into the seasonal variations in diet composition. It was found that the stomach fullness index (FI) varied significantly among the seasons, with Winter showing the highest values (0.827). On the other hand, the lowest value was detected in the Autumn season (0.480). Age and length groups were also considered, with notable differences in stomach FI and diet composition observed across different stages of growth. Food preference analysis highlighted the selective tendencies of wels catfish towards certain food types, with Atherina boyeri and T. tinca emerging as preferred choices in different size groups. For small, medium, and large length individuals, the most preferred prey fish were A. boyeri (Va = 0.39518, χ2 = 31.2336), T. tinca (Va = 0.63564, χ2 = 82.8073) and T. tinca (Va = 0.666495, χ2 = 88.4307), respectively. The findings provide valuable insights into the feeding behaviour of wels catfish, underscoring the importance of understanding these patterns for effective management and conservation efforts. Further research should aim to explore the ecological implications of these feeding habits on the overall aquatic ecosystem.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/anu/4619857
spellingShingle Ramazan Yazici
Mahmut Yilmaz
Okan Yazicioğlu
Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis
Aquaculture Nutrition
title Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis
title_full Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis
title_fullStr Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis
title_short Exploring Prey Selectivity and Feeding Habits of Wels Catfish (Silurus glanis L., 1758) in a Deep Anatolian Reservoir: Seasonal, Length, and Age-Dependent Diet Analysis
title_sort exploring prey selectivity and feeding habits of wels catfish silurus glanis l 1758 in a deep anatolian reservoir seasonal length and age dependent diet analysis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/anu/4619857
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