Feeding ecology of mirmir (Lithognathus mormyrus linnaeus, 1758) in beymelek lagoon

In this study, the gastric contents of the murres (Lithognathus mormyrus) caught in Beymelek Lagoon were analysed. A total of 485 murres (198 females and 287 males) were sampled in Beymelek Lagoon during 4 seasons between 2023 April and 2024 Janu-ary. The total length and weight of the murres varied between 11.8 - 31.2 cm and 22.2 - 480.3 g, respectively. Seasonal differences were found in the length-weight relationships and length frequency distributions of the seabream fishes. The growth was isometric except in the autumn season and negative allometric in the autumn season. The stomach contents of 146 randomly selected out of 485 individuals sampled were examined and 117 of them contained digested material and identifiable organisms, 29 of them were empty. While there were no significant differences between the size groups, significant differences we-re found between the seasons. According to the % IRI values, the food composition of murres consisted of Chironomidae, Penaidae, Crustacea, Bivalvia and Gastropoda members, respectively. In addition, according to the size groups of food organisms consumed by carnivorous murres showed a difference in the results of the study.