Feeding ecology and food preferences of Cherok Paloh, Pahang horseshoe crab, tachypleus gigas

Md Razak, Mohd Razali and Kassim, Zaleha and Sabuti, Asnor Azrin and Ismail, Ahmad (2017) Feeding ecology and food preferences of Cherok Paloh, Pahang horseshoe crab, tachypleus gigas. Malaysian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, 13 (3). pp. 198-202. ISSN 2289-5981 E-ISSN 2289-599x

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Abstract

Intensive previous studies on horseshoe crabs feeding ecology were mostly focus on Limulus polyphemus. Their food preference might be different depend on the availability and abundance of feeds in the particular environment. This paper aims to investigate the feeding ecology and food preferences of Cherok Paloh, Pahang Tachypleus gigas. Ten samples of male and female horseshoe crabs, Tachypleus gigas were trapped in fishing net during the incoming high tide and 10 samples of male and female were hand-harvested at the spawning beach during pre and post-mating respectively. Their gut content was analysed by the Electivity Index. Results showed that Tachypleus gigas coming to spawn with full gut content. Echinoderm served as a main food composition in the gut of males (50%) and females (51.94%) during the open sea migration phase. The main composition was substituted by macrophyte (males: 59.51% to 65.15%; females: 36.36% to 58.10%) as they arrived to shore. Based on Electivity Index, male crabs showed positive preference toward polychaete (EI: 0.04) and macrophyte (EI: 0.19) at the spawning site while, the females showed positive preference toward bivalve (EI: 0.46). Further study on feeding ecology is needed in order to improve the population of Tachypleus gigas in Malaysia.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	7204/59377
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Tachypleus gigas, electivity index, food composition, gastro-somatic index, spawning migration phase
Subjects:	Q Science > QL Zoology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Science
Depositing User:	Associate Prof. Dr. Zaleha Kassim
Date Deposited:	17 Nov 2017 09:16
Last Modified:	26 Jan 2018 01:49
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/59377

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