PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #69: Animal Ecology.
Friday, August 9. Presentation from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Exhibit Hall B & C, TCC
91
Diet of nine fish species in the Los Olivitos estuarine, Zulia State, Venezuela.
Weir, Enrique*,1, Gil-Weir, Karine1, Rodriguez, Karla1, Rosales, Yolangel1, Rivera, Rita1, Chocron, Monica1, Velazco, Jorge2, 1 Universidad del Zulia, Facultad Exp.Ciencias, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela2 Ministerio de Produccion y Comercio, Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela
ABSTRACT- A study of trophic dynamics of nine fish species was undertaken in the estuarine system of Los Olivitos swamp, Zulia State, Venezuela. We sampled stomach contents in 1999 and 2000 of the following species: Anchovia clupeoides, Centropomus ensiferus, Centropomus paralelus, Elops saurus, Eucinostomus gula, Mugil curema, Mugil liza, Sphoeroides greeleyi and Sphoeroides testudineus in four localities. These species have an extensive distribution at Los Olivitos Wildlife Refuge and are strongly dependent on nutrient supply and physical-chemical conditions of the water within the mangrove. We observed changes in composition and abundance of diet in association with the sampled areas, related to food availability and physical-chemical conditions, especially with salinity. We discussed the importance of disturbance to mangroves in relation to food supply and its effects on fish diversity.
KEY WORDS: Fish diet , Los Olivitos , mangrove, Venezuela