Trophic ecology and length-weight relationship of Hypoatherina temminckii (Bleeker, 1854) in the seagrass ecosystem of Semak Daun Island, Kepulauan Seribu

Abstract

Abstract Semak Daun Island is commonly used as a tourist destination site in the Kepulauan Seribu Marine National Park. Seagrass beds are found along the coast of this small island and have an essential role as shelter and feeding areas for various aquatic biotas, such as small-sized fishes of Samoan Silverside, Hypoatherina temminckii. Samoan silverside is usually used as bait in the tuna fishery. The present study aimed to determine growth pattern, diet composition, trophic level, guild, and feeding strategy of Samoan silverside in the seagrass ecosystem of the Semak Daun Island. Fish samples were captured using seine net monthly from February 2018 to March 2019. A total of 1,481 H. temminckii were collected, and all were juvenile. Results indicate that juveniles of Samoan silverside feed mainly on zooplankton and shows specialist predator as its feeding strategy. Moreover, this species occupies trophic levels ranging from 3.00-3.99 and exhibits a positive allometric growth pattern. Thus, the current study confirms that the seagrass ecosystem of the Semak Daun Island is the nursery and feeding grounds for the juvenile of Samoan silverside.