Daily food ration and allometric growth in Vinciguerria nimbaria (Stomiiformes, Phosichthyidae) (Jordan & Williams, 1895) in equatorial Atlantic Ocean
In the equatorial tropical Atlantic, in a particular zone of the ocean (2–5 N, 10–20 W) large quantities of tuna are seasonally fished. To understand the mechanism underlying this high productivity in this biologically poor area, two oceanographic surveys, in winter (P1) and summer (P3) aboard ANTEA...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.e-fas.org/archive/view_article?doi=10.47853/FAS.2025.e24 |
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| Summary: | In the equatorial tropical Atlantic, in a particular zone of the ocean (2–5 N, 10–20 W) large quantities of tuna are seasonally fished. To understand the mechanism underlying this high productivity in this biologically poor area, two oceanographic surveys, in winter (P1) and summer (P3) aboard ANTEA, made it possible to take samples using a pelagic trawl coupled with a pressure sensor. With the aim of estimating the daily food intake and the state of well-being of Vinciguerria nimbaria in its environment, stomachs contents and length-weight relationships (LWRs) were analyzed. 7 trawls were carried out at each season at different depths and times. Fishing is carried out in areas of high detection. Fish V. nimbaria presented a negative allometric growth pattern in winter (P1) and a positive allometry in summer (P3), reflecting more favorable well-being conditions in summer, outside the fishing season, than in winter, during the fishing season. The analysis of stomach contents reveals significant differences between the preys consumed by V. nimbaria in the summer of those consumed in winter. In summer, zooplankton is mainly large (Calanus sp., Scolecithrix sp. and Euchaeta sp., Chaetognaths and euphausiacea) while in winter they are mostly small (Clauso-Calanus sp., Oncaea sp. and Corycaeus sp.). The fish in summer are larger and heavier than in winter, reflecting better well-being. The calculated rations give higher summer values (16.0% of body weight) than winter values (7.2% of body weight) at the same temperature. This suggests a better diet during the summer than during the winter. Tuna can thus, in winter, benefit from the presence in surface waters of V. nimbaria in search of food. |
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| ISSN: | 2234-1757 |