Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the Feeding Ecology of Harpadon nehereus (Hamilton 1822) from the North-East Coast of India

The feeding habit of 217 Bombay ducks was analysed by their gut contents and species were identified and observed in different frequencies for a year (2024-25). The species that were identified are Coilia dussumieri (CD), Johnius dussumieri (JD), Otolithes cuvieri (OC), Setipinna sp. (HA), Leptracanthus savala (RF), Stolephorus sp.(SC), Harpadon nehereus (HN), Non-Penaeid sp. (PS), X (unidentified). The frequency of gut contents was arranged in decreasing order, such as – PS > CD > HA > HN > OC > X > (SC, JD, RF) based on the frequency table of the gut content. The percentage Index of Relative Importance (IRI) was also provided, where PS (78.51178%) is the dominant prey, followed by CD (7.255529%), HN (7.092837%), HA (3.262283%) and OC (2.679047%). JD (0.487117%), X (0.296222%), RF (0.284903%), and SC (0.130269%) - occasional prey. The Degree of fullness (DF) and Stomach Fullness Index (SFI) predicted a low feeding intensity. Shannon-Wiener index (H’= 1.4854) and Pielou’s evenness index (J’= 2.197225) were calculated and indicating that the feeding habit is moderately generalized with moderate diversity and evenness of prey. The type of species obtained from the gut is also provided.