Food preference of wild milkfish juveniles in connection with habitat and food availability

Abstract

Through quantitative determination of the gut content of wild milk fish (Chanos chanos) juveniles, the study aimed to evaluate the food preference of the fish in relation to its availability in the pond so that necessary measures can be taken to provide such food to the feeding organisms. Wild juveniles of milkfish and plankton samples were collected in a mangrove lagoon at Nabunut Island. Various types of food organisms found in the mangrove plankton samples and food components in the gut of milkfish were then tabulated and compared. The gut content of the fish examined showed a preponderance of detritus, plant debris and fine sand particles. These organic materials without mixture of live food organisms were found in 64.5% of the fish collected. Other food ingested consisted of live food organisms but their proportion in the gut was smaller compared to the proportion found in the natural environment. Milkfish juveniles, upon entering depositional environments, prefer to feed on detritus. The pathway of energy flow in the kind of environment is for the food to pass through a detrital chain before being utilized by milkfish. The functional concept and evidence of this pathway is not restricted to natural ecosystems but may also prevail in pond environments.