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Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2009, Vol 9, Num, 1     (Pages: 99-103)

Feeding Habits of Black Scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus, in the South- Eastern Black Sea

Nimet Selda Başçınar 1 ,Hacer Sağlam 1

1 Central Fisheries Research Institute, 61250, Kaşüstü, Trabzon, Turkey Viewed : 4042 - Downloaded : 3337 This study was carried out to describe the feeding habits of Scorpaena porcus and to investigate the effect of sex, size and season on their diet. Within the framework of this study, food preferences of 262 Scorpaena porcus (13±0.26 cm; 67±3.46 g) (±SE of means) which were taken from the stomach contents of fish caught at Trabzon coast (located at the South – Eastern Black Sea coast, between November 2003 and January 2004) were investigated. Scorpaena porcus fed mainly upon red mullet (Mullus barbatus) (IRI%=34.67) and mud shrimp (Upogebia pusilla) (IRI%=28.10), but also upon harbour crab, brown shrimp, sea horse, and others. It was found that there were significant differences between its dietary habits in summer and winter times (χ2=38.10, P<0.01). Scorpaena porcus, fed mainly upon harbour crab (IRI%=63.43) in summer and red mullet (IRI%=57.46) in winter. As a result of statistical evaluation, red mullet, harbour crab and sea horse were found statistically significant in their seasonal diet (P<0.05). Keywords : black scorpionfish, Scorpaena porcus, feeding habit, seasonal changes, Black Sea