Food sources of the teleost Eucinostomus argenteus in two coastal lagoons of Brazil

Eucinostomus argenteus is widely distributed along the Brazilian coast where it enters bays and lagoons. Imboacica and Cabiunas are small coastal lagoons located in the southeastern coast of Brazil and in both localities E. argenteus is considered as a constant species. The diet of specimens collected between July 1991 through April 1993 was analysed by frequency of occurrence, numeric and volumetric methods. The predominant items ingested differed in each lagoon. In Imboacica lagoon, rite stomach content comprised mainly of algae, polychaeta, detritus and sand particles, however in Cabiunas lagoon calanoid copepods and shrimp larvae. Distinct features of the aquatic communities of the lagoons are discussed as possible causes for the differences observed.