Feeding Aspects Of Notarius Grandicassis (SILURIFORMES: ARIIDAE) Caught By Artisanal Fisheries On The Eastern Amazon Coast, State Of MARANHÃO, BRAZIL

The analysis of stomach contents is one of the few methods that provide information on food ecology and the trophic spectrum of fishes in their natural habitat. The aim of the present study was to investigate the food spectrum of Notarius grandicassis caught by the fishing fleet operating in estuaries in the state of Maranhão (Eastern Amazon). Biological material was obtained from artisanal fisheries in the study area. Sampling was conducted between April 2012 and August 2013 using driftnets with stretch mesh sizes from 40 to 120 mm. Stomach content analysis enabled the identification of a diet consisting of six categories of food items: Crustacea Decapoda, Crustacea Isopoda, Crustacea Cumacea, Mollusca Bivalvia, fishes and plant material. The analysis indicates a tendency toward greater feeding activity in the rainy season. Ontogenetic changes in the consumption of species were also observed, with a predominance of crustaceans and fishes among larger individuals and Crustacea Cumacea, Crustacea Isopoda and plant material exclusively consumed by smaller individuals. The Feeding activity results found in this study can contribute to fishing strategies and the management of this potentially exploitable economic resource.