An Insight into the Feeding Ecology of Serranus scriba, a Shallow Water Mesopredator in the Northern Adriatic Sea, with a Non-Destructive Method

Serranus scriba is a common member of the coastal fish community in Adriatic Sea, but knowledge about its feeding ecology scarce. The aim this paper to present new evidence food preferences and habits. An innovative non-destructive method fecal pellet analysis was used for study. This does not require sacrificing specimens can be released back into sea alive after laboratory work. results demonstrated that S. mainly preys on decapods, followed by polychaetes, isopods, fish, mollusks swarming shrimps. calculated index trophic diversity (ITD) value 0.89 indicates it an opportunistic feeder feeds wide range different prey. According level 3.43, which higher than other members community, also important piscivorous predator. With age, undergoes ontogenetic shift. proportion crustaceans, gastropods polychaetes decreases with age body size, while increases.