Feeding habits of fish fauna in Batang Kerang floodplain, Balai Ringin, Sarawak

Diet analysis of fish is important for the studies of competition, predator-prey relationship, trophic level, food webs and potential fish aquaculture. Analysis on feeding habit of fish fauna in Batang Kerang was still less studied. The objectives of the study are to identify the feeding habits and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Lorna, Emit
Format: Final Year Project Report / IMRAD
Language:English
Published: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, (UNIMAS) 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/10076/
http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/10076/3/Lorna%20Emit%20ft.pdf
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Summary:Diet analysis of fish is important for the studies of competition, predator-prey relationship, trophic level, food webs and potential fish aquaculture. Analysis on feeding habit of fish fauna in Batang Kerang was still less studied. The objectives of the study are to identify the feeding habits and to analyze the food items consumed by fish fauna in Batang Kerang. Fish samples were collected from Batang Kerang floodplain, Balai Ringin in August 6 to 7, 2010 and in March 12, 2011. The total length, standard length and weight were measured to the nearest centimeter (cm) and gram (g), and fish species were identified. Fifty eight specimens were dissected to collect their gut content for the study of feeding habits. The feeding habits were detennined based on Gut Relative Index (ORI), percentage (%) of food composition and percentage (%) of frequency of occurrence. The results showed that the major food item consumed by fish fauna in brown water is detritus (44.6%) followed by plant materials (31.8%) and insects (11.5%). In black water, major food item is detritus (41.5%) followed by plant materials (34.1%) and algae (12.2%). Further study on detail feeding habit of fish should be done.