Ontogenetic dietary shift and feeding strategy of <i>Raja undulata</i> Lacepède, 1802 (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae) on the Portuguese continental shelf

Teresa Moura; Ivone Figueiredo; Inês Farias; Bárbara Serra-Pereira; Ana Neves; Maria de Fátima Borges; Leonel Serrano Gordo

doi:10.3989/scimar.2008.72n2311

Authors

Teresa Moura Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, IPIMAR
Ivone Figueiredo Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, IPIMAR
Inês Farias Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, IPIMAR
Bárbara Serra-Pereira Departamento de Biologia Animal and Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Ana Neves Departamento de Biologia Animal and Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
Maria de Fátima Borges Departamento de Recursos Marinhos, IPIMAR
Leonel Serrano Gordo Departamento de Biologia Animal and Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2008.72n2311

Keywords:

diet, feeding strategy, Raja undulata, Polybius henslowi, Portuguese continental shelf

Abstract

Under the scope of an ecosystem approach to fisheries, the understanding of trophic interactions is important for the assessment and consequently the proposal of suitable management measures. Raja undulata, like other rajids, is an important demersal predator in the Portuguese coastal community for which the biological and ecological information is still scarce. The ontogenetic dietary shift was investigated. Major length groups were defined through cluster analysis of the mean abundance of prey items. Prey diversity and feeding strategy were evaluated by length group. Multivariate analysis of variance was performed to test the influence of the factors sex, season and maturity on the diet of this species. It was concluded that R. undulata has a dietary ontogenetic shift within the definition of three major length groups (MLGs): 200-550 mm; 550-750 mm and 750-1000 mm. Diet varied from small and semi-pelagic to large and benthic prey. The feeding strategy of the species also changed from a generalised to a specialised diet. The decapod Polybius henslowi was the main prey item, especially for larger predators. Differences were found between sexes, maturity stages and seasons in each MLG.

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