
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bell, JD 
A1  - Burchmore, JJ 
A1  - Pollard, DA 
T1  - Feeding Ecology of Three Sympatric Species of Leatherjackets (Pisces : Monacanthidae) from a <I>Posidonia</I> Seagrass Habitat in New South Wales
JF  - Marine and Freshwater Research
JO  - Mar. Freshwater Res.
Y1  - 1978
VL  - 29
IS  - 5
SP  - 631
EP  - 643
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9780631 
N2  - Three species of leatherjackets, Monacanthus chinensis, Meuschenia freycineti and Meuschenia trachylepis, averaged 34% of the total biomass and 27% of the total numbers of fishes in a Posidonia australis seagrass habitat near Sydney. Monacanthus chinensis was dominant, comprising 22% of the total biomass and 18% of the total numbers in this fish community. All three species were omnivorous, consuming considerable amounts of seagrass and algae as well as animal material. However, only the encrusting fauna and epiphytic algae of the seagrass appeared to be actually digested. Other foods of all three species included hydroids, molluscs, crustaceans and polychaetes. Meuschenia freycineti consumed the largest quantities (65%) of seagrass, Monacanthus chinensis consumed the largest amount (40%) and greatest variety of animal foods, and Meuschenia trachylepis took the smallest quantity (12%) and number of animal foods and the greatest amount (55 %) of algae. All three species were found to be highly dependent on the encrusting fauna, epi- phytic algae and other epifauna and infauna of this seagrass habitat, and the importance of preserving Posidonia beds is therefore stressed. 
ER  -

