Habitos alimenticios de Caranx vinctus (Perciformes: Carangidae), especie de importancia comercial en la bahia de Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.

Introduccion: Caranx vinctus es una especie importante en las pesquerias locales, utilizada como fuente de proteina para el consumo humano, sin embargo, su ecologia trofica es poco conocida en las costas de Pacifico mexicano. Objetivo: Conocer los habitos alimenticios de C. vinctus. Metodologia: Se analizaron los contenidos estomacales de 268 ejemplares, capturados mediante el arte de pesca, chinchorro playero, en la sociedad cooperativa Playa las Hamacas, en la Bahia de Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. Se aplico el indice de importancia relativa especifica de la presa (% PSIRI) para determinar las principales categorias alimenticias (items). La amplitud de la dieta se calculo utilizando el indice de Levin. Las posibles diferencias en la dieta por sexo, madurez sexual o temporada se identificaron a traves del indice Morisita Horn y un analisis multivariado ANOSIM. Resultados: Los principales items fueron crustaceos representados principalmente por larvas megalopa de Portunoidae (16.51%), Teleostei (12.7%), materia organica no identificada (11.2%), y Anchoa ischana (10.6%) El indice de Levin indica baja amplitud del nicho trofico (Bi = 0.29) por lo que se le puede considerar como un depredador especialista con marcadas preferencias hacia algunos tipos alimentarios. El indice de Morisita Horn indico que, se presento un traslape entre las dietas por sexo (hembras y machos C[lambda] = 0.84), pero no entre madurez sexual (Juveniles y adultos C[lambda] = 0.56) y temporadas (Lluvias y secas C[lambda] = 0.03). Un analisis ANOSIM indico que habia diferencias significativas en la dieta de C. vinctus por sexo, madurez sexual y temporada. Conclusion: Se establecio que de manera general C. vinctus es una especie zooplantofaga e ictiofaga (Nivel Trofico = 3.39). Palabras clave: jureles; Carangidae; dieta; nivel trofico; Portunoidae; Anchoa ischana; Pacifico Oriental Tropical. Feeding habits of Caranx vinctus (Perciformes: Carangidae), a commercially important species in Acapulco Bay, Guerrero, Mexico. Introduction: Caranx vinctus is an important species in local fisheries, used as a source of protein for human consumption, however, its trophic ecology is little known on the Mexican Pacific coast. Objective: Know the feeding habits of C. vinctus. Methods: The stomach contents of 268 specimens, captured beach nets, in the Playa Las Hamacas cooperative society, in Acapulco Bay, Guerrero, Mexico, their food items were analyzed. The prey-specific index of relative importance (% PSIRI) was applied to determine the main food categories (breadth was calculated using Levin's index. Possible differences in the diet by sex, sexual maturity, or season were identified through Morisita Horn index and a multivariate ANOSIM analysis. Results: Crustaceans mainly represented by megalopa larvae of Portunoidae (16.51%), Teleostei (12.7 %), unidentified organic matter (11.2%), and Anchoa ischana (10.6%) were the most important food items. The Levin index indicates low amplitude of the trophic niche (Bi = 0.29) so C. vinctus can be considered as a specialist predator with marked preferences towards some food items. The Morisita Horn index indicated that there was an overlap between sexes (females and males C[lambda] = 0.84), but not between sexual maturity (Juveniles and adults C[lambda] = 0.56) and seasons (Rainy and dry C[lambda] = 0.03). ANOSIM analysis indicated that there were significant differences in the diet of C. vinctus by sex, sexual maturity, and season. Conclusion: It was established that in general C. vinctus is a zoplantophage and ichthophagus species (Trophic Level = 3.39). Key words: jack; Carangidae; diet; trophic level; Portunoidae; Anchoa ischana; Tropical Eastern Pacific.