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Gut length for several marine fish: relationships with body length and trophic implications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2010

Paraskevi K. Karachle  and
Konstantinos I. Stergiou
Paraskevi K. Karachle*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Ichthyology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University, Box 134, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
Konstantinos I. Stergiou
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Ichthyology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University, Box 134, GR-54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: P.K. Karachle, Laboratory of Ichthyology, Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University, Box 134, GR- 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece email: pkarachl@bio.auth.gr
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Abstract

In the present study gut type was described and intestinal indices (i.e. mean gut length, relative gut length and Zihler's index) were estimated and compared for 58 fish species from the North Aegean Sea. A strong relationship between gut length (GL) and total length (TL) (significant relationships (P < 0.05) for 52 species) was found, whereas the hypothesis of the allometric growth of GL with TL was confirmed for 27 out of the 52 species. For the same TL, GL differs for species with different feeding habits (in omnivores > carnivores), as previously reported. Finally, for the same TL, GL also differs for species with different habitats (reef-associated > pelagic > benthopelagic > demersal) and gut types (Z-shaped with multiple loops > looped Z-shaped > Z-shaped >straight > convoluted > short with spiral valve).

Keywords

ecomorphologyalimentary tractintestine lengthtrophic levelsNorth Aegean SeaGreece
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 3 , June 2010 , e106
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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