What cephalopod remains from Xiphias gladius stomachs can imply about predator‐prey interactions in the Mediterranean Sea?

Abstract

Analysis of the cephalopod beaks found in the stomachs of 69 swordfish Xiphias gladius caught in the Aegean Sea resulted in the identification of nine cephalopod taxa. Cephalopod consumption was higher in summer and autumn, and larger swordfish were more likely to feed on cephalopods. Todarodes sagittatus was the most abundant species, a finding suggesting its abundance in the Mediterranean sea.

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