Trophic ecology of Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus larvae
Open accessAbstract
Feeding intensity, diet composition, selectivity, energy ingestion and dietary niche breadth of larval Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus were studied on the eastern (Mediterranean) spawning grounds of the species. Larval T. thynnus were collected in the Balearic Archipelago (north-west Mediterranean Sea) during 2004 and 2005 using surveys specific for larval scombrids. Larvae between 2·6 and 8·7 mm standard length (L(S) ) are diurnal feeders, and 94% of the guts collected during daylight hours were full. The mean ±s.d. number of prey per gut was 7·1 ± 5·7, with mean ±s.d. ranging from 3·0 ± 1·6 in the smallest T. thynnus larvae to 11·1 ± 5·8 in 5·0-6·0 mm L(S) larvae. Up to 21 prey were found in a single larval gut (5·0-6·0 mm L(S) ) at the end of the day. Larvae progressively selected larger prey and exhibited increased carbon content concurrent with preflexion development of feeding and locomotory structures. Larvae of 5·0-6·0 mm L(S) exhibited positive selection of cladocerans over other prey (Chesson's index), whereas copepod nauplii dominated the diets of earlier stages. The dietary niche breadth measured increased initially but decreased at c. 5·5 mm L(S) . Appendicularians were found in the diet of larger larval sizes, but no piscivory was observed. Results are discussed in light of the sparse existing data for larval T. thynnus and other larval tuna species.
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ABFT larvae first feed on the early stages of copepods (nauplii) near the surface.
“Their larvae first feed on the early stages of copepods (nauplii) near the surface”
From Atlantic bluefin tuna spawn early to avoid metabolic meltdown in larvae (2022) · cites this paper as Catalan et al. 2011
As ABFT larvae grow larger, they select for larger zooplankton, particularly Cladocera.
“as they grow larger, they select for larger zooplankton (Catalan et al. 2011, Landry andBeckley 2019), particularly Cladocera”
From Atlantic bluefin tuna spawn early to avoid metabolic meltdown in larvae (2022) · cites this paper as Catalan et al. 2011
Larval BFT appear likely to feed on copepods, copepod nauplii, cladocerans and appendicularians at preflexion stages, before becoming more piscivorous postflexion.
“Studies concerning the diets of larval BFT are rare, but they appear likely to feed on copepods, copepod nauplii, cladocerans and appendicularians at preflexion stages, before becoming more piscivorous postflexion (Uotani et al. 1990, Llopiz et al. 2010, Catalán et al. 2011, Reglero et al. 2011).”
From Comparison between environmental characteristics of larval bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and western Mediterranean Sea (2013) · cites this paper as Catalán et al. 2011
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Self-citationAtlantic bluefin tuna spawn early to avoid metabolic meltdown in larvae
Fiksen, Ø., & Reglero, P. (2022) · Ecology · doi:10.1002/ecy.3568 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Catalán, I. A., Tejedor, A., Alemany, F., & Reglero, P.
- Affiliations
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- Centro Oceanográfico de Illes Balears (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Catalán, I. A.
- Venue
- Journal of Fish Biology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-05
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1545-1560
- ISSN
- 0022-1112 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-8649
- OpenAlex
- W2007918967
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.65
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Fish Biology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Marine and fisheries research
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Aquatic Science › Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Keywords
- Thunnus thynnus, fish larvae, feeding ecology, diet composition, feeding selectivity, dietary niche breadth, gut content analysis, Cladocera, copepod nauplii, appendicularians, diel feeding
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Diet, Energy Metabolism, Feeding Behavior, Larva, Mediterranean Sea, Tuna, Food Chain
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