ISSN:
1095-8649
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Scartichthys viridis maintains a herbivorous diet following recruitment to rocky intertidal areas, where it consumes almost exclusively macroalgae. The sheet–like green macroalgae Ulva and Enteromorpha were the main items consumed by individuals 〈130 mm LT. The tough branching red macroalga Gelidium made the bulk of the gut contents of specimens 〉220 mm LT, Ulva being consumed to a much lesser extent. Further, Gelidium increased in importance in the total gut contents during ontogeny. In contrast, both small (70–120 mm LT) and medium–sized (140–210 mm LT) S. viridis individuals preferred Ulva in the laboratory. It is suggested that the increasing consumption of Gelidium along the ontogeny of S. viridis results from the limited availability of Ulva in the field. Large S. viridis individuals possessed longer guts relative to their body length, in comparison with small individuals.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2000.tb00887.x
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