Read my research proposal. Right now I am working on this topic so if you have any more question you can contact me via [email protected]
Trophodynamics and Review of methods for Stomach content analysis of fishes
Two papers I found most useful:
Hyslop, E. J. (1980) Stomach contents analysis—a review of methods and their application. Journal of Fish Biology 17: 411-429.
Hellawell, J. M. and Abel, R. (1971), A rapid volumetric method for the analysis of the food of fishes. Journal of Fish Biology 3: 29–37.
A rapid volumetric method can be adopted for food analysis. Also you can go through other methods as suggested by Hyslop, E. J. (1980) , Journal of Fish Biology 17: 411-429.
I've been trying to get a hold of Hyslop (1980) since this seems to be the benchmark for other references I've read. But here are three other papers:
1. Ferry, L.A. and Cailliet, G.M. (1996). Sample size and data analysis: Are we characterizing and comparing diet properly? - http://fishphysiology.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Ferry1.pdf
2. Lima-Junior, S.E. and Goitein, R. (2001). A new method for analysis of fish stomach contents. - http://www.uems.br/cinam/pdf/sidnei/Lima-Junior%20&%20Goitein%20-%202001.pdf
3. Baker, R. et al. (2014). Fish gut content analysis: robust measures of diet composition. FISH and FISHERIES, 15: 170-177.
This is also a good paper to have: Cortés, E. (1997). A critical review of methods of studying fish feeding based on analysis of stomach contents: application to elasmobranch fishes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 54(3), 726-738
While interesting from some angles (ecological surveys), stomach content, fullness and emptying rates are often not as useful as believed to predict feed / food requirement and growth potential. Many people tend to believe that the rate of stomach emptying determines the feed / food requirement of fish and this is largely erroneous. Feed/food requirement and nutritional needs are actually driven by the "desire to grow: of the animal. There is a genetically determined target growth trajectory and target nutrient deposition and associated nutrient deposition of the fish (influenced by environment/life stage/nutritional status/history) that drive the desire to eat. Of course some aspects of the physical characteristics of the feed/food will affect how much feed / nutrient will be consumed and how fast the bolus of feed/food will progress through the GI tract. However, it is a lot more important to monitor/model/predict the growth trajectory and body components accretion / nutrient deposition than to examine the dynamic of stomach filling and emptying. You can look up contribution from my research team in growth, body composition and feed requirement modeling list here in this site.
Dear Colleague
I recommend the following old methodological paper:
Pillay, T.V.R., 1952. A critique of the methods of study on food of fishes. J. Zool. Soc. India, 4: 185- 200.
and my earlier Ichthyological Book:
Hedayatifard, M. and Ramezani, H. 2007. Applied Ichthyology. Islamic Azad University, Ghaemshahr. xii + 206 pp.
Methodology:
The feeding intensity was assessed by visual estimation based on the distension of the gut and the quantity of food contained in it. The various stomach conditions based on degree of fullness are expressed as gorged, full, ¾ full, ½ full, ¼ full, trace and empty as suggested by Pillay (1952). The gut was then cut open and the contents were analyzed under binocular microscope for the food composition, preference and relative importance of various food items following the 'points (volumetric) method' of Pillay (1952).
The gastro somatic index (GSI) was calculated for each specimen to estimate the feeding intensity by making use of the following formula:
Weight of the gut
GSI = --------------------------------- X 100
Weight of the animal
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