A total of 112 stomachs of the Great Pipefish, Syngnathus acus Linnaeus, 1758 (56 females and 38 males), was collected in Izmir Bay (Aegean Sea) and analysed in order to determine the feeding habits. 95 specimens (85.6%) were found with prey items in their stomachs. Zoo-planktonic organisms were the main food and in terms of numerical (NO%) and frequency (FO%) of occurrence, four main prey categories were determined in the gut content of this species. The most dominant group was found to be harpacticoid copepods (33.6% NO; 57.7% FO), followed by Amphipoda (22.3% NO; 38.2% FO), cypris larvae (12.8%NO; 21.9%FO) and decapod crustaceans (9.5% NO; 16.3% FO), respectively. The numbers of their occurrence indicated that there were significant differences between the seasons. Seasonal differences in the gut content were found in 9 prey groups in spring (p0.05) and 6 in winter (p0.05), showing that feeding is more diverse in spring than in winter. Similarly, the number of occurrences indicated that there was a significant difference in the first (p0.05) and fourth size groups (p0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the feeding pattern between sexes (p>0.05). Consequently, small crustaceans were the most important prey to be consumed in all seasons by all size groups of Syngnathus acus, whereas decapod crustacean larvae/eggs, larger prey items, were preferred by larger specimens.

The material used in this study was collected within the framework of the "Fishes and their reproductive periods in Tuzla Lagoon and Urla Coasts of Izmir Bay" project (Projects: 2001 SUF 003 ; 2002 SUF 002), funded by Ege University. We are grateful to all the project staff.

Ege UniversityEge University [2001 SUF 003, 2002 SUF 002]

WOS: 000282152400010