Cerda, G and Wolff, Matthias ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7458-983X (1993) Feeding ecology of the crab Cancer polyodon in La Herradura Bay, northern Chile. II. Food spectrum and prey consumption. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 100 . pp. 119-125. DOI https://doi.org/10.3354/meps100119.

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Abstract

Cancer polyodon stomachs were analyzed to determine the dietary breadth and relative importance of prey species of male and female crabs at 2 study sites in La Herradura Bay throughout the year. Of 51 prey items identified, small crustaceans and molluscs of a wide size range predominated at both localities, followed by echinoderms, polychaetes, fish and algae. Cannibalism was high (10% of total crab production) and showed 2 peaks during winter and summer respectively, indicating recruitment pulses. Significant differences in diet composition were found between sexes, localities, seasons and sizes. Females consumed greater quantities of the deep-burrowing jackknife clam Tagelus dombei than males. Most egg-carrying females were found not to feed. In one of the study areas (characterized by a heterogeneous rocky-sandy bottom covered with algae), cirripeds Austromegabalanus psittacus and porcellanid crabs Petrolisthes spp. were of highest relative importance (6.96 and 6.38%), while in the other area (a homogeneous sandy bottom without algae) Tagelus dombei was by far the most important species (42.2%) followed by the gastropod Priene rude (2.82%). Small crabs (< 8.0 cm) ingested a higher proportion of molluscs at both study sites, while crustaceans had a higher relative importance in stomachs of large crabs (> 11 cm). Echinoderms and fish were absent in stomachs of small crabs (< 8.0cm carapace width). Estimates of annual prey consumption/area are given and the crabs' functional role in the shallow water community of La Herrâdura Bay is discussed.

Document Type:	Article
Programme Area:	PA Not Applicable
Research affiliation:	Integrated Modelling > Resource Management
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3354/meps100119
ISSN:	0171-8630
Date Deposited:	10 Nov 2025 18:46
Last Modified:	10 Nov 2025 18:46
URI:	https://cris.leibniz-zmt.de/id/eprint/5984

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