Basic HTML Version
International Journal of Marine Science 2013, Vol.3, No.12, 98-104
http://ijms.sophiapublisher.com
100
high percentages of 9.3%, 11.1% and 10.2% (January)
and a low percentages of 2.3% (June), 3.1% and 1.7%
(November) in juveniles, males and females
respectively. Detritus were present with low
percentages of 2.4% (July), 2.2% (August) and 1.8%
(July) and high percentages of 10.5% (march), 11.3%
(May) and 11.4% (March) respectively in juveniles,
males and females. Mud/sand particles were found
with higher percentages of 15.1% (January), 17.1%
and 12.1% (June) and low percentages of 4.2%
(October), 3.7% (July) and 4.1% (August) in juveniles,
males and females respectively.
1.1 Variations of food items among the juveniles,
males and females of
B. boddarti
The percentage composition of various food items of
juveniles, males and females are given Figure 1, 2 and
3. It is apparent from the Figure 1 that the stomachs of
juveniles of
B. boddarti
contained more diatoms
(71.5%) when compared to male and female
mudskippers. Further, it showed that the juvenile
fishes preferred mainly diatoms. Nematodes (4%),
polychaetes (3.6%) and fish eggs (1.1%) were found
to be less in the diet of juveniles. Mud/sand particles
(8.4%) were present with minimum percentage when
compared to male and female fishes. Detritus (6.1%)
and algae (5.4%) were recorded with minimum
percentage in the food of juveniles. Based on the
present study, it can be derived that the juveniles feed
on diatoms as a principal diet than the other food
items. In the case of males and females, the dietary
composition showed a significant preference for other
food items than the diatoms. The percentage
composition of food items of males and females
includes diatoms (55.7% and 57.62%), nematodes
(10.1% and 9.07%), polychaetes (8.63% and 8.48%),
fish eggs (3.15% and 3.48%), algae (6.55% and
6.81%), detritus (6.45% and 6.13%) and Mud/sand
particles (9.42% and 8.41%) respectively in their diets
(Figure 2, 3). Various food items present in the males
include diatoms, nematodes, polychaetes, fish eggs,
algae, detritus and Mud/sand particles. All these dietary
compositions were also observed in females. Though
there was a slight variation in the percentage of food
items, the nature of food was always similar in both
male and female fishes examined in the present study.
Figure 1 Percentage composition of food items in Juvenile
B.
boddarti
Figure 2 Percentage composition of food items in male
B.
boddarti
Figure 3 Percentage composition of food items in female
B.
boddarti