Size distribution and feeding ecology of an Endemic Celebes Rainbowfish Marosatherina ladigesi Ahl, 1936 in Batu Puteh River, South Sulawesi

Abstract

Abstract Marosatherina ladigesi is one of the endemic-ishes in South Sulawesi traded as an ornamental-ish. Anthropogenic activities such as destructive-ishing and habitat degradation caused by sand dredging have caused M. ladigesi to be listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Conservation efforts are urgently needed to maintain this species in its native habitat. This study aimed to-ill gaps in data on size distribution and feeding ecology. Sampling was conducted monthly from May 2018 to April 2019 in the Batu Puteh River, South Sulawesi. Specimens were caught with a seine net (5 m long, 2 m wide, and 1 mm mesh size). All 235 M. ladigesi caught were collected and transported to the Macro Biology Laboratory I, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, IPB University for analysis. The size structure of-ish is 22.5 - 56.2 mm and on average male M. ladigesi were longer than females. The diet of M. ladigesi in the Batu Puteh River comprised insect larvae, mollusks, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. The most abundant prey item was insect larvae. M. ladigesi was therefore categorized as a predatory-ish. This generalist feeding strategy enables M. ladigesi to take adcantage of the available food organisms. These-indings can be used to prepare a food formulation for M. ladigesi in captivity that resembles their diet in the wild.

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