Feeding habits of Piper, Trigla lyra (LINNAEUS, 1758) inhabiting the Aegean Sea

Abstract

       Stomach contents of 476 Trigla lyra collected from the Aegean Sea during four seasonal trawl surveys from July 1991 to February 1993, were studied. Quantitative analysis of the stomach contents revealed the species to be carnivorous from < 10 cm onward, feeding on benthic and epibenthic prey. During all seasons Crustacea were the most important food source by number and frequency of occurrence, and dominance. Mollusca, the second most important food category, showed seasonal fluctuations, while Echinodermata ranked third. Feeding intensity of this species was higher in spring.