Biometric growth parameters and diet composition of  Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 in Negombo Lagoon,    Sri Lanka

A.M.P.M. Abeysinghe; H.A.C.C.  Perera; N.T.P.  Nimasha

doi:10.21077/

Authors

A.M.P.M. Abeysinghe Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, GQ 11600, Dalugama, Sri Lanka
H.A.C.C. Perera Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, GQ 11600, Dalugama, Sri Lanka
N.T.P. Nimasha Department of Zoology and Environmental Management, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, GQ 11600, Dalugama, Sri Lanka

https://doi.org/10.21077/

Keywords:

Frequency of occurrence, Mugilidae, Omnivore, Stomach, Synthetic debris

Abstract

Length-weight relationship, condition factor, and diet composition of the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus were studied from the Negombo Lagoon, Sri Lanka, from August 2022 to March 2023. The sampled specimens ranged between 16.9 and 32.0 cm in total length (TL) and 55.50 -and 291.70 g in weight. A negative allometric growth pattern was observed (b<3, t-test, p<0.05) with a significant positive correlation between length and weight expressed by the equation: W=0.0266TL2.690, (R2=0.951, n=100). Fulton’s condition factor (K) of males and females were 1.0501+0.0359 and 1.0048+0.0123, respectively. The relative gut length (RGL) ranged from 1.52 to 3.18, and the gastrosomatic index (GaSI) ranged from 2.012 to 3.874. The average RGL (2.442+0.146) indicated that the species was an omnivore. Stomach content analysis revealed that algae (30.86%), sand particles (25.71%), and detritus (23.43%) were the main food items. Occurrence of synthetic debris such as nylon fibres were also observed in the stomachs of flathead mullets during the study.

Keywords: Frequency of occurrence, Mugilidae, Omnivore, Stomach, Synthetic debris

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