Summary: | The aim of the present study was to determine the feeding ecology of portunid crab, Carcinus aestuarii in Çardak Lagoon. For this purpose, a total of 533 crab stomachs were analyzed. Stomach contents were examined under a binocular stereomicroscope and 240 (45%) of the stomach samples were recorded as full (containing at least one food item) and 293 (55%) were recorded as empty. The occupancy rates were 25% in 127 stomachs, 50% in 69, and 100% of 44. The main diet of crab individuals was composed of fragments of fish species. Diatoms were the least consumed food by crabs. A total of 8494 diet fragments were found in the stomachs. Total stomach content was 26.39 g of fish vertebrates having the highest weight (3.58 g).
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