01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-06-0195 |
| Title of Abstract | Feeding habits and trophic ecomorphology of Acanthurus triostegus (Linnaeus, 1758) from South Andaman Islands ⿿ A preliminary study |
| Authors | S.Narayani*, S.Venu |
| Organisation | Dept of Ocean Studies and Marine Biology, Pondicherry University |
| Address | 39,John Selvaraj Nagar Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India Pincode: 612001 E-mail: nans.mythila@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Acanthurus triostegus specimens were collected from the reef areas of South Andaman Islands and their ecomorphology was elucidated through gut content analysis, morphometrics and anatomical features. Various ecomorphological indices related to food and feeding were calculated. Gut content analysis revealed that the species mainly fed on filamentous algae, with preference for Chlorophytes, which contributed to 93% of the gut content. Enteromorpha clathrata and E.paradoxa were found to be the most abundant food items in the gut. The trophic level indicated the species to be a herbivore. The niche/diet breadth was 0.075, indicating that this species is a specialist with regard to diet. The morphological features of the teeth and gill rakers were found to influence food item preference and processing. The morphological features observed in the study were found to have a significant influence on the food and feeding habits, hence confirming the correlation of trophic ecology with morphology. This work is the first of its kind from this region. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Algae, Ecomorphology, Niche, India, Indices, Reef |
| For Awards | no |