@article{fdi:010037851,
  title = {{F}orage fauna in the diet of three large pelagic fishes (lancetfish, swordfish and yellowfin tuna) in the western equatorial {I}ndian {O}cean},
  author = {{P}otier, {M}ichel and {M}arsac, {F}rancis and {C}herel, {Y}. and {L}ucas, {V}. and {S}abati{\'e}, {R}. and {M}aury, {O}livier and {M}{\'e}nard, {F}r{\'e}d{\'e}ric},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{P}rey composition and resource partitioning were investigated among three large pelagic fish predators, yellowfin tuna ({T}hunnus albacares), swordfish ({X}iphias gladius) and lancetfish ({A}lepisaurus{J}erox), in a poorly known oceanic area, the western {I}ndian {O}cean. {T}he contents of 380 non-empty stomachs were analysed from specimens caught with longlines during scientific cruises carried out from 2001 to 2003. {D}iet data were processed by occurrence, mean proportion by number, wet weight, and mean proportion by reconstituted weight. {C}rustaceans, dominated by the swimming crab {C}harybdis smithii and the stomatopod {N}atosquilla investigatoris, were the major food source of lancetfish. {C}annibalism was also significant for that species. {Y}ellowfin tunas preyed upon a large diversity of mesopelagic fishes, crustaceans ({C}. smithii and crab larvae) and cephalopods (the ommastrephid {S}thenoteuthis oualaniensis). {M}esopelagic fishes ({C}ubiceps pauciradiatus and {D}iretmoides parini) and cephalopods (mainly {S}. oualaniensis) were the main prey of swordfish. {D}iet overlap between swordfish and yellowfin tuna was evidenced by high {M}orisita-{H}orn index. {B}ut the feeding habits of these three predators differed by foraging depth and prey size, with swordfish feeding at deeper depths and on larger prey than the more epipelagic lancetfish and yellowfin tuna. {U}sing these three predators as biological samplers, the present study provides novel data on micronekton fauna that is poorly documented in the western {I}ndian {O}cean: 67 families and 84 species of prey were recovered in the stomach contents, and our results indicate the presence of large resources of pelagic crustaceans that play a primary role in the epipelagic food chain.},
  keywords = {diet composition ; feeding ; food web ; lancetfish ; swordfish ; yellowfin tuna ; {I}ndian {O}cean ; trophic overlap},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{F}isheries {R}esearch},
  volume = {83},
  numero = {1},
  pages = {60--72},
  ISSN = {0165-7836},
  year = {2007},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.fishres.2006.08.020},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010037851},
}