STOMACH CONTENT OF THREE TUNA SPECIES IN THE EASTERN INDIAN OCEAN
Abstract: Feeding habit of
tuna in Indian Ocean has been described around Sri Lanka, Indian Waters,
Andaman Sea, western Indian Ocean (Seychelles Islands), western equatorial
Indian Ocean whereas the tunas feeding habit study in Eastern Indian Oceanis
merely in existence. The purpose of this study is to investigate the stomach
content of three tuna species (bigeye tuna, yellowfin tuna, and skipjack tuna),
apex predator in the southern part of Eastern Indian Ocean. The study was
conducted in March – April, 2010 on the basis of catches of commercial tuna
longline vessel based in Port of Benoa. A total of 53 individual fishes were
collected, consisting of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus
albacores), and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). Stomach specimens were
collected and analyzed.Analysis was conducted on the basis of index of
preponderance method. The diet of the three tuna species showed fishes as the
main diet (56–82%), followed by cephalopods (squids) as the complementary diet
(0–8%), and crustaceans (shrimps) as the additional diet (2–4%). Fish prey
composed of 6 families i.e. Alepisauridae, Bramidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae,
Engraulidae, and Scombridae.
Keywords: Stomach content;
bigeye tuna; yellowfin tuna; skipjack tuna; Eastern Indian Oceana
Author: Bram Setyadji, Andi
Bahtiar, Dian Novianto
Journal Code: jpperikanangg120049
