Feeding habits of the saddled bream, Oblada melanura (Sparidae), in the Adriatic Sea

The feeding habits of the saddled bream, Oblada melanura (Linneaus, 1758), from the Adriatic Sea were investigated with respect to fish size and season. Stomach contents of 926 specimens, 11.3-29.3 cm TL, collected by beach seine from 1992 to 1993, were analyzed. Of the total number of examined stomachs, 87 were empty (9.4%). This percentage varied significantly over the year, with a maximum number of empty stomachs recorded during the winter and a minimum number recorded during the summer. Copepods constituted the main prey in all size-classes. With fish growth, the proportion of planktonic organisms decreased, while that of fish and benthic organisms increased. The mean weight of stomach contents increased significantly for fish larger than 22.0 cm TL. Diet composition showed little seasonal variation, copepods were the most prey item important in all seasons, especially during the warmer part of the year. Higher intensities of feeding activity in spring and summer could be related to temperature and maximal abundance of zooplankton and benthic organisms. The results indicated that the saddled bream fed on a wide range of prey items and could be considered an opportunistic predator.Original Abstract: Les habitudes alimentaires de laoblade, Oblada melanura, de la Mer Adriatique ont ete etudiees en fonction de la taille des poissons et de la saison de prelevement. Les contenus stomacaux de 926 specimens, 11,3-29,3 cm LT, captures par seine de plage de 1992 a 1993 ont ete analyses. Au total, 87 estomacs etaient vides (9,4%). Ce pourcentage a change de maniere significative au cours de laannee, avec un nombre maximum daestomacs vides enregistre pendant lahiver et un nombre minimum enregistre pendant laete. Les copepodes ont constitue les proies principales dans toutes les classes de taille. La proportion daorganismes planctoniques a diminue avec la croissance, tandis que celle des poissons et des organismes benthiques a augmente. Le poids moyen du contenu stomacal a augmente de maniere significative pour les poissons de taille superieure a 22,0 cm LT. La composition du regime alimentaire a montre peu de variation saisonniere ; les copepodes ont ete dominants quelles que soient les saisons, et particulierement pendant la partie plus chaude de laannee. Des intensites plus elevees daactivite daalimentation au printemps et en ete ont pu etre liees a la temperature et a laabondance maximale de copepodes. Les resultats ont indique que laoblade saalimente a partir