This study examined the feeding habits of Mugil cephalus in the Korangi-Phitti Creek System in Pakistan. The researchers analyzed gut contents of M. cephalus collected from 19 stations across different seasons and creek structures. They found the diet varied between creek structures and seasons, with small creeks containing more cyanophytes, chlorophytes, bryozoans and molluscs, while wider creeks contained more diatoms, foraminifera, holothurians and crustaceans. Prey items also varied seasonally, with highest diversity found in the northeast monsoon and transition seasons. The results suggest the mangrove habitats in the creek system provide a nutritionally rich environment supporting marine

1. Sadaf Fatima*, Zakia Khatoon**, S. Makhdoom Hussain***
and Razia Sultana**
*Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi
**Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Labs. Complex, Karachi
*** NAPHIS, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, Islamabad, Pakistan
Diet composition and feeding habits of
Mugil cephalus (Family Mugilidae) from the
Korangi-Phitti Creek System

2. Introduction
• Mugil cephalus (Family Mugilidae)
marine coastal, found in tropical and
temperate waters.
• Their juveniles and adults are
euryhaline and eurythermal in nature
and enter into the estuaries and rivers
for feeding.
• It is an economic important sp., in Pak. total
catch decreased from 22,485 Metric Tons in
1993 to 12,336 metric tons in 1999 (Fisheries
statistics, 2002)

4. OBJECTIVES
• To evaluate the feeding habits of Mugil cephalus
within different creek structures (small and
medium);
• To evaluate the diet changes in the monsoonal
season;
• To analyze the importance of creeks as feeding area
which is considered in relation to the sources
of food available in the habitat that support
the nourishment and growth of juvenile
fishes.

5. FISH COLLECTION:
• Mugil cephalus was collected from 19 stations (GNG= 12,
PQ= 7) during the Jan. 2000-Jan.2001, with 5.7 and 3.8 cm
stretch mesh size monofilament gill nets.
HABITAT DATA COLLECTION:
• As a general index of temporal changes in environmental
conditions in our study area, water temperature, air
temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and tidal stage and
depth were recorded at each site on each sampling date.
ANALYSIS:
• Stomach-fullness index (SFI)=wet mass of stomach
content(g) / body wt. of fish(g)x100;
• State of digestion; volume of food contained in stomach;
• Sub-sample of food contents were examined under
microscope;
• Prey items were identified to the genus or species level,
counted.

6. RESULTS
Total fish caught= 88
Season . Creek Structure
NEM APT SWM OCT Small Medium
N=45 N=0 N=31 N=12 N=12 N=7
Tide (m)
Mean 2.20 2.52 2.10 1.96 2.56 2.45
±SE 0.10 0.18 0.08 0.12 0.05 0.19
Depth (m)
Mean 6.13 3.24 6.01 9.64 5.49 6.93
±SE 0.46 0.30 0.42 1.26 0.28 0.92
Atmospheric Temperature 0
C
Mean 28.02 32.53 31.70 33.47 30.92 31.25
±SE 0.25 0.20 0.19 0.24 0.28 0.59
Water Temperature 0
C
Mean 24.16 29.53 30.22 30.25 28.22 27.30
±SE 0.28 0.18 0.14 0.14 0.30 0.89
Salinity (ppt)
Mean 39.36 40.92 38.14 38.74 38.16 39.85
±SE 0.16 0.62 0.20 0.36 0.23 0.38
DO (mg/l)
Mean 5.71 3.72 5.34 5.15 5.05 6.14
±SE 0.28 0.06 0.15 0.30 0.22 0.44

7. 0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Empty 25% 50% 75% 100%
Stomach Fullness
Percentage
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
230-258 259-287 288-316 317-345 346-374 375-403
Size Class (mm)
Percentage
0
5
10
15
20
25
0.05 0.1 0.25 0.3 0.5 0.6 0.8
Stomach Fullness Index (SFI)
Percentage
Jan.0
0
Feb. Mar. Apr. May June Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan0
1
2 11 1 15 2 2 12 26 13 4
N=16

8. Food Items present in the stomachs of Mugil cephalus
Cynophyta: Anabaena, Chrooococcus, Merismopedia, Oscillatoria etc.
Chlorophyta: Ulothrix, Westellopsis, Hormidium, Closterium spp.
Bacillariophyta: Amphora, Cymbella, Diploneis, Cocconies, Navicula
Foraminifera: Discorbis, Foraminifera species
Cnidarians: Corals
Platyhelminthes: Cestod parasite
Annelida: Trocophore larva, Polychaete worms
Nematoda: Trematode parasite, Nereid worms
Echinodermata: Holothurians and Bipinnaria
Molluscs: Velliger, Broken shell pieces
Bryozoa: Cyphonautes larva
Arthropoda: Cypis, Nauplie, Zoea, Megalopa, Mysis, Copepods etc.
Urochordata: Tunicate larva, Prorocentrum
Ciliataea: Vorticella sp.
Chaetognatha:
Fish Larvae:

9. Percentage of Prey Item Groups in the Stomachs of Mugil cephalis
Platyhelminthes,
0.133
Annelida, 2.35
Cnidaria, 0.016
Foraminifera,
5.24
Nematoda ,
0.89
Echinodermata,
3.17
Urochordata,
0.04
Bryozoa, 0.76
Molluscs, 12.1
Bacillariophyta
25.09
Cynophyta,
4.023
Chlorophyta,
4.388
Ciliatae,
0.0083
Chaetognatha,
0.008312
Fish larva,
0.0083
Arthropoda 43.73
N=16
N.gracili
s
E.sorex
A.brevipes
D.ovalis
P.spenceri
N. rotaeana

10. 1. Cynophyta; 2. Chlorophyta; 3. Bacillariophyta; 4. Foraminifera; 5.
Cnidaria; 6. Platyhelminthes; 7. Annelida; 8. Nematoda; 9. Echinodermata;
10. Molluscs; 11. Bryozoa; 12. Arthropoda; 13. Urochordata; 14. Ciliatae;
15. Chaetognatha; 16. Fish larva.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Groups
Percentage Port Qasim (N=7)
Ganglaro Creek (N=12)
N.filiformis
P.kernari
Merismopedia sp.
Surirella
sp.
Cymbella

11. Mugil cephalus
1. Cynophyta; 2. Chlorophyta; 3. Bacillariophyta; 4. Foraminifera; 5. Cnidaria; 6.
Platyhelminthes; 7. Annelida; 8. Nematoda; 9. Echinodermata; 10. Molluscs; 11.
Bryozoa; 12. Arthropoda; 13. Urochordata; 14. Ciliatae; 15. Chaetognatha; 16. Fish
larva.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Groups
Percentage
NEM (N=8)
SWM (N=7)
OCT (N=3)

12. SUMMARY
 Mugil cephalus were not found during the April trans. Period,
when the salinity was higher & DO was lower.
The analysis of the gut contents showed different percentages of
microscopic algae, plant materials, zooplanktons, annelids, crustacean
parts, and miscellaneous items.
Diet contained Cnidarians, chaetognaths & fish larvae only at
Ganglaro Creek while ciliatae at PQ;
Cnidarians were found in SWM and Oct., fish larvae only in Oct.;
Ciliate & chaetognathes were found in NEM season, urochordates
found in NEM & Oct.
Coral Prorocentrum
Fish larva
Tunicate
larva
Copepod

13.  Comparisons between creeks indicate that the feeding
preferences of M. cephalus in the small (GNG) & medium
(PQ) creeks were consistently fluctuate during the
monsoon seasons.
 The diet group most abundant in the small creeks were
Cynophytes, Chlorophyes, bryozoans & molluscs while the
wide creeks diet were characterized by diatoms,
Foraminiferas, Holothurians, Crustaceans.
Seasonal comparisons indicated that the prey items in the gut of
M. cephalus were significantly different during the NEM, SWM and
October transitional seasons.

14.  The prey groups in the gut of M. cephalus were
highest during the NEM & Oct. transitional season,
whereas lowest groups were found in the SWM
season and was characterized by crustaceans.
The diversity of prey items found in the stomachs of
M. cephalus suggest that mangroves found in the
Korangi Creek System provide a nutritionally rich
environment for the existence of marine fauna and
flora. The mangroves soil creates an ideal habitat for
the variety of organisms and play a significant role in
the food chain.

15. Data on the economic value of the mangrove-based fisheries in the
Indus Delta area are not available. However, since employment and
income in the region depends heavily on this resource, its
contribution to the local economy is significant.
Despite the importance of the fisheries within the region, little
baseline biological data (i.e., community composition and seasonal
use) are available for many fish species from these waters.
The results of the present study can be used to promote effective
management and conservation of the fisheries in the region.