What prey item dominated the white marlin diet in the South Atlantic IRI study at 27.9% occurrence?

Answer

Flying gurnard (*Dactylopterus volitans*)

The scientific examination conducted on white marlin stomachs sourced from the southwestern equatorial Atlantic revealed a distinct hierarchy of prey importance, quantified using the Index of Relative Importance (IRI). The analysis pinpointed the flying gurnard, scientifically known as *Dactylopterus volitans*, as the single most significant food source within that specific regional sample. This particular prey item accounted for nearly three-tenths of the stomach occurrences, specifically registering at 27.9%. This finding, combined with the average small size of the prey items (around 10.1 cm), suggests a behavioral pattern where the marlin targets areas where deep ocean structures, such as seamounts or canyons, draw life from benthic or shallower zones, rather than exclusively chasing large, purely pelagic aggregations.

What prey item dominated the white marlin diet in the South Atlantic IRI study at 27.9% occurrence?

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dietPredatoroceanfishMarlin