publications_Peer-reviewed

Book chapters and Conference proceedings

Pitcher, T.J., T. Morato , P.J.B Hart, M. Clark, N. Haggan and R.S. Santos (eds) (2007). Seamounts: Ecology, Fisheries and Conservation. Fish and Aquatic Resources Series 12, Blackwell, Oxford , UK , 536 pp. abstract     pdf

Kitchingman, A.; S. Lai; T. Morato and D. Pauly (2007). Seamount abundance and locations (Chapter #2). Pp: 26-40 in Pitcher, T.J., Morato, T., Hart, P.J.B., Clark, M., Haggan, N. and Santos , R. (eds) Seamounts: Ecology, Fisheries and Conservation. Fish and Aquatic Resources Series, Blackwell, Oxford , UK. abstract     pdf

Morato, T. and M. Clark (2007). Seamount fishes: ecology and life histories (Chapter #9). Pp: 170-188 in Pitcher, T.J., Morato, T. , Hart, P.J.B., Clark, M., Haggan, N. and Santos , R. (eds) Seamounts: Ecology, Fisheries and Conservation. Fish and Aquatic Resources Series, Blackwell, Oxford , UK. abstract     pdf

B. Fulton, T. Morato and T.J. Pitcher (2007). Seamount ecosystem models, application and data requirements (Chapter #13). Pp: 296-332 in Pitcher, T.J., Morato, T. , Hart, P.J.B., Clark, M., Haggan, N. and Santos , R. (eds) Seamounts: Ecology, Fisheries and Conservation. Fish and Aquatic Resources Series, Blackwell, Oxford , UK. abstract     pdf

Pitcher, T.J., T. Morato , P.J.B. Hart, M.R. Clark, N. Haggan and R.S. Santos (2007) The depths of ignorance: an ecosystem evaluation framework for seamount ecology, fisheries and conservation (Chapter #21). Pp: 476-488 in Pitcher, T.J., Morato, T., Hart, P.J.B., Clark, M.R., Haggan, N. and Santos , R.S. (eds) Seamounts: Ecology, Conservation and Management. Fish and Aquatic Resources Series, Blackwell, Oxford , UK. abstract     pdf

Machete, M.; T. Morato and G. Menezes. 2005. Modelling the distribution of two fish species in seamounts of the Azores. Pp: 182-195 in R. Shotton (ed.). Deep Sea 2003: Conference on the governance and management of deep-sea fisheries. Part 1 Conference reports. Queenstown, New Zealand, 1-5 December 2003. FAO Fisheries Proceedings 3/1, Rome.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Morato, T. and T.J. Pitcher. 2005. Ecosystem simulations in support of management of data-limited seamount fisheries. Pp: 467-486 in G.H. Kruse; V.F. Gallucci; D.E. Hay; R.I. Perry; R.M. Peterman; T.C. Shirley; P.D. Spencer; B. Wilson and D. Woodby (eds). Fisheries assessment and management in data-limited situations. Alaska Sea Grant, University of Alaska Fairbanks. Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium Series 21. abstract     pdf

T.J. Pitcher; C.H. Ainsworth; E. Buchary; W.L. Cheung; R. Forrest; N. Haggan; H. Lozano; T. Morato and L. Morissette. 2005. Strategic management of marine ecosystems using whole-ecosystem simulation modelling: the ‘back to the future' policy approach. Pp: 199-258 in E. Levner; I. Linkov; J.-M. Proth (Eds). Strategic Management of Marine Ecosystems. Nato Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences 50. Springer. abstract     pdf

Regular papers

Morato, T.; M. Machete; A. Kitchingman; F. Tempera; S. Lai; G. Menezes; R.S. Santos; and T.J. Pitcher (2008). Abundance and distribution of seamounts in the Azores. Marine Ecology Progress Series 357: 23-32. abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Morato, T.; D.A. Varkey; C. Damaso; M. Machete, M. Santos, R. Prieto, R.S. Santos and T.J. Pitcher (2008). Testing a seamount effect on aggregating visitors. Marine Ecology Progress Series 357: 17-21. abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Afonso, P., J. Fontes, T. Morato, K. Holland and R.S. Santos (2008). Reproduction and spawning habitat of white trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex, in the Azores, central north Atlantic. Scientia Marina 72(2): 373-381. abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Afonso, P., T. Morato and R.S. Santos (2008). Spatial patterns in reproductive traits of the temperate parrotfish Sparisoma cretense. Fisheries Research 90:92-99. abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Morato, T.; P. Afonso; N. Carvalho; P. Lourinho; R.S. Santos; H.M. Krug and R.D.M. Nash (2007). Growth, reproduction and recruitment patterns of the wide-eyed flounder, Bothus podas Delaroche (Pisces: Bothidae), from the Azores. Marine Biology Research 3(6):403-411. abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Cheung, W.W.L.; R. Watson; T. Morato; T.J. Pitcher and D. Pauly (2007) Intrinsic vulnerability in the global fish catch. Marine Ecology Progress Series 333: 1–12.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Morato, T.; R. Watson, T.J. Pitcher and D. Pauly. 2006. Fishing down the deep. Fish and Fisheries 7:24-34.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 4

Morato, T. ; W.W. L. Cheung and T.J. Pitcher. 2006. Vulnerability of seamount fish to fishing: fuzzy analysis of life history attributes. Journal of Fish Biology 68(1):209-221.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 6

Figueiredo, M.; T. Morato ; J.P. Barreiros; P. Afonso; R.S. Santos. 2005. Feeding ecology of the white seabream, Diplodus sargus cadenati , and the ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta , in the Azores. Fisheries Research 75(1-3): 107-119.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 4

Morato, T.; P. Afonso and J.L. Carlin. 2004. First record of scamp, Mycteroperca phenax, in the north-eastern Atlantic. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the UK 84(1): 281-282.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 1

Aurelle, D.; T. Guillemaud; P. Afonso; T. Morato; P. Wirtz; R.S. Santos and M.L. Cancela. 2003. Genetic study of Coris julis (Osteichtyes, Perciformes, Labridae) evolutionary history and dispersal abilities. Comptes rendus Biologies 326: 771-785. abstract     pdf     Cited by 5

Morato, T.; P. Afonso; P. Lourinho; R.D.M. Nash and R.S. Santos. 2003. Reproductive biology and recruitment of the white sea bream in the Azores. Journal of Fish Biology 63: 59-72.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 5

Morato, T.; P. Afonso; R.S. Santos; H.M. Krug and R.D.M. Nash. 2003. The reproduction, age and growth of the spotted rockling. Journal of Fish Biology 62: 1450-1455.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Morato, T.; E. Solà; M.P. Grós and G. Menezes. 2003. Diet of the two most common elasmobranchs in the bottom longline fishery of the Azores, northeastern Atlantic: thornback ray Raja cf. clavata and tope shark, Galeorhinus galeus. Fishery Bulletin 101(3): 590-602.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 11

Barreiros, J.P.; T. Morato; R.S. Santos and A.E. Borba. 2003. Inter-annual changes in the diet of the almaco jack Seriola rivoliana (Perciformes: Carangidae) from the Azores. Cybium 27(1): 37-40.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 5

Morato, T.; E. Solà; M.P. Grós and G. Menezes. 2001. Feeding habits of two congener species of seabreams, Pagellus bogaraveo and Pagellus acarne , off the Azores (northeastern Atlantic) during spring of 1996 and 1997. Bulletin of Marine Science 69(3): 1073-1087.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 5

Wirtz, P. and T. Morato. Unequal sex ratios in longline catches. 2001. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the U.K. 81: 187-188. abstract     pdf     Cited by 2

Morato, T.; P. Afonso; P. Lourinho; J.P. Barreiros; R.S. Santos and R.D.M. Nash. 2001. Weight-length relationships for 21 coastal fish species of the Azores, northeastern Atlantic. Fisheries Research 50(3): 297-302.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 17

Vieira, C.M. and T. Morato. 2001. First record of the crabs Pirimela denticulata (Montagu, 1808) and Xaiva biguttata (Risso, 1816) (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Azores. Arquipélago. Life and Marine Sciences 18A: 87-89.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 0

Guillemaud, T.; M.L. Cancela; P. Afonso; T. Morato; R. S. Santos and P. Wirtz. 2000. Molecular insights into the taxonomic status of Coris atlantica (Pisces: Labridae). Journal of Marine Biological Association of the U.K. 80: 929-933.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 5

Morato, T.; R.S. Santos and P. Andrade. 2000. Feeding habits, seasonal and ontogenetic diet shift of blacktail comber, Serranus atricauda (Pisces: Serranidae), from the Azores, Northeastern Atlantic. Fisheries Research 49(1): 51-60.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 15

Guillemaud, T.; R. Streiff; R.S. Santos; P. Afonso;T. Morato and M.L. Cancela. 2000. Microsatellite characterization in the rainbow wrasse Coris julis (Pisces: Labridae). Molecular Ecology 9: 631-632.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 2

Morato, T.; E. Solà; M.P. Grós and G. Menezes. 1999. Diets of forkbeard (Phycis phycis) and conger eel (Conger conger) off the Azores during spring of 1996 and 1997. Arquipélago: Life and Marine Sciences 17A: 51-64.
abstract     pdf     Cited by 6

Intrinsic vulnerability in the global fish catch.
Cheung, W.W.L.; R. Watson; T. Morato; T.J. Pitcher and D. Pauly. 2007. Marine Ecology Progress Series 333: 1–12.

Abstract
We have identified the marine fish taxa that are most vulnerable to exploitation, by compiling an index of intrinsic vulnerability based on life history traits. Since 1950, the global fish catch has been increasingly dominated by species with low intrinsic vulnerability, indicated by a decline in mean vulnerability of the taxa in the catches. This decline is strongest in catches of coral reef fishes, probably as a result of overexploitation of the more vulnerable species. The change is less apparent in estuaries, where fish communities are more transient. The opposite is observed at seamounts, where more vulnerable species have become exploited and serially depleted in recent years. Rates of change in the mean vulnerability index in the catches from different areas are negatively correlated with the number of threatened fishes on the IUCN Red List. Particularly, catches from the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions are characterized by a high abundance of threatened fishes and by strong declines in the mean vulnerability index. Our findings suggest that fishing largely alters the community structure of coral reef fishes, which may detrimentally affect the ecosystem. Attention should also be given to deep water demersal and benthopelagic fish assemblages, especially those around seamounts, which are intrinsically vulnerable to fishing. The index of intrinsic vulnerability thus provides a novel tool for fisheries management and conservation.
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Fishing down the deep.
Morato, T.; R. Watson, T.J. Pitcher and D. Pauly. 2006. Fish and Fisheries 7:24-34.

Abstract
Global landings of demersal marine fishes are demonstrated to have shifted to deeper water species over the last 50 years. Our analysis suggests deep-water fish stocks may be at serious risk of depletion, since their life histories render them highly vulnerable to overfishing with little resilience to overexploitation. Deep-sea fisheries are exploiting the last refuges for commercial fish species and should not be seen as a replacement for declining resources in shallower waters. Instead, deep-water habitats are new candidates for conservation.
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Vulnerability of seamount fish to fishing: fuzzy analysis of life history attributes.
Morato, T. ; W.W. L. Cheung and T.J. Pitcher. 2006. Journal of Fish Biology 68(1):209-221.

Abstract
This paper attempts to test the hypothesis that “seamount fishes” generally have a high vulnerability to exploitation and that this is correlated with their life history characteristics. Despite rather broad definitions, global analysis shows that “seamount fishes”, particularly “seamount-aggregating” fishes, have higher intrinsic vulnerability than other groups of fishes. The pattern is similar when considering only commercially exploited species. Biological characteristics leading to greater vulnerability include a longer lifespan, later sexual maturation, slower growth and lower natural mortality. This research supports the contention that “seamount fishes”, especially those that aggregate on seamounts, are highly vulnerable to exploitation and that fishing on seamounts may not be sustainable at current levels and with current methods. A number of seamount populations have already been depleted; more depletion, extirpations, and even species extinctions may follow if fishing on seamounts is not reduced.
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Feeding ecology of the white seabream, Diplodus sargus cadenati, and the ballan wrasse, Labrus bergylta, in the Azores.
Figueiredo, M.; T. Morato ; J.P. Barreiros; P. Afonso; R.S. Santos. 2005. Fisheries Research 75(1-3): 107-119.

Abstract
To make a first approach in the assessment of the sea urchin predators in the Azores, the diet of white seabream (Diplodus sargus) and ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta), were studied by the analyses of their stomach contents. The white seabream is a diurnal omnivore, feeding on algae, sea-urchins, worms, gastropods and amphipods, while ballan wrasse fed mainly on echinoderms (sea-urchins), gastropods and decapods. Both species tended to feed on harder prey, such as echinoderms and gastropods, as they grew. Although both species feed upon similar resources, the diet overlap was low. This study shows that the white seabream and the ballan wrasse are important predators of sea-urchins in Azorean coastal habitats. Furthermore, larger fish account for most of the predation on sea-urchins consumption. Thus, a reduction in the abundance and mean size of fishes, which is a typical consequence of fishing, may significantly decrease predation on sea-urchins and could thus facilitate their proliferation.
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First record of scamp, Mycteroperca phenax, in the north-eastern Atlantic.
Morato, T.; P. Afonso and J.L. Carlin. 2004. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the UK 84(1): 281-282.

Abstract
An adult specimen of Mycteroperca sp. previously unrecorded was collected from the Azores Islands. Based on comparison of morphological characters and the cytochrome b mitochondrial gene, the specimen was identified as the western Atlantic species M. phenax, a species previously unrecorded from the central or eastern Atlantic Ocean.
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Genetic study of Coris julis (Osteichtyes, Perciformes, Labridae) evolutionary history and dispersal abilities.
Aurelle, D.; T. Guillemaud; P. Afonso; T. Morato; P. Wirtz; R.S. Santos; M.L. Cancela. 2003. Comptes rendus Biologies 326: 771–785.

Abstract
Microsatellite markers have been used to study the genetic variability of rainbow wrasse (Coris julis) Mediterranean and Atlantic populations. Differentiation tests failed to reveal any significant genetic differentiation among samples from continental Portugal and the Azores, despite more than 1800 km of geographical separation. Preliminary results tended to indicate a significant genetic differentiation among Atlantic and Mediterranean samples. It also supported the specific status of Cape Verde populations (Coris atlantica). We compare these results with previous mtDNA analyses and propose a biogeographic scenario that could explain our results.
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Reproductive biology and recruitment of the white sea bream in the Azores.
Morato, T.; P. Afonso; P. Lourinho; R.D.M. Nash and R.S. Santos. 2003. Journal of Fish Biology 63: 59-72.

Abstract
The life history of the white sea bream Diplodus sargus in the Azores showed a pattern consistent with digynic hermaphroditism achieving sexual maturity during the second year of life, at 16 . 7 cm LT . Spawning occurred from March to June at temperatures between 15 and 17 C and the onset and duration of spawning season in the sea bream appeared to be influenced by sea water temperatures. As latitude decreased, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, the spawning season of D. sargus populations started earlier and extended longer, highlighting the potential importance of temperature to the onset and duration of reproduction in this species. Settlement took place from late May to July, and settlers remained in the nursery area for c. 2 . 5 months. Emigration from the nursery area to join shoals of juveniles occurred from late July to September.
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The reproduction, age and growth of the spotted rockling.
Morato, T.; P. Afonso; R.S. Santos; H.M. Krug and R.D.M. Nash. 2003. Journal of Fish Biology 62: 1450-1455.

Abstract
Biology of the Macaronesian endemic rockling Gaidropsarus guttatus was studied in the Azores. The overall sex ratio from the samples was highly in favour of females (1:6.33). The growth parameters were Linf=24.23, k=1.219 and t0=-0.059. Fish matured at 15 cm LT and the spawning season was strongly clustered in April.
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Diet of the two most common elasmobranchs in the bottom longline fishery of the Azores, northeastern Atlantic: thornback ray Raja cf. clavata and tope shark, Galeorhinus galeus.
Morato, T.; E. Solà; M.P. Grós and G. Menezes. 2003. Fishery Bulletin 101(3): 590-602.

Abstract
Tope shark, Galeorhinus galeus, and thornback ray, Raja cf. clavata, are the two most captured elasmobranch species by the Azorean bottom longline fishery. The diets of thornback ray and tope shark caught during 1996 and 1997 in the Azores were analyzed to describe feeding patterns and to investigate the influence of sex, size, depth and area of capture on their diet. This leads to a better understanding of trophic dynamics in this location. Thornback rays fed mainly upon fishes and reptants, but also upon polychaetes, mysids, natant crustaceans, isopods, and cephalopods. In the Azores, this species preyed more heavily upon fish compared with the predation patterns described in other areas. Differences in the diet may be clue to differences in the environments studied i.e., in the Azores, seamounts and oceanic islands are the major topographic features, whereas all other studies have been conducted on continental shelves. No differences were observed in the major prey consumed between the sexes or between size classes (49-60, 61-70, 71-80 and 81-93 cm TL). Our study indicates that rays inhabiting different depths and areas (coastal or offshore banks) prey upon different resources. This appears to be related to the relative abundance of prey with habitat. Tope sharks were found to prey almost exclusively upon teleost fish. Small shoaling fish, mainly boarfish (Capros aper) and snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) were the most frequent prey. This work illustrates that t he thornback rays and tope sharks are top predators in the Azores waters. However, year round sampling and analysis of stable isotopes, could provide a less biased average estimate of these predators' trophic levels.
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Inter-annual changes in the diet of the almaco jack Seriola rivoliana (Perciformes: Carangidae) from the Azores.
Barreiros, J.P., T. Morato, R.S. Santos and A.E. Borba. 2003. Cybium 27(1): 37-40.

Abstract
The food habits of 232 almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana) were investigated in the Azores (NE Atlantic) between 1997 and 2000. Fish length ranged from 23 to 134cm SL and 74% of the stomachs contained food. Their diet was exclusively piscivorous and dominant prey were juveniles of Trachurus picturatus (1997 to 1998) and Scomber japonicus (1999 to 2000). An apparent colapse of T. picturatus stocks is interpreted as the main cause for the detected diet shift.
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Feeding habits of two congener species of seabreams, Pagellus bogaraveo and Pagellus acarne , off the Azores (northeastern Atlantic) during spring of 1996 and 1997.
Morato, T.; E. Solà; M.P. Grós and G. Menezes. 2001. Bulletin of Marine Science 69(3): 1073-1087.

Abstract
The blackspot seabream, Pagellus bogaraveo, has traditionally been the main target species of the bottom longline fishery in the Azores. However, in recent years several other species have increased in economic importance, including the axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne. Despite their commercial value, few studies regarding their diet composition were found in the literature. Data were collected during the demersal cruise surveys that took place aboard the R/V "Arquipélago" during the spring of 1996 and 1997. The stomach contents of blackspot and axillary seabreams were examined to define their diets. Both seabreams studied fed on a wide variety of small organisms, mainly fishes and several invertebrates. Prey fishes were important in the diets of both blackspot seabream and axillary seabream (61.3% and 76.3% frequency of occurrence, respectively). Thaliaceans and ophiuroids were the most important invertebrates for both species. In addition, blackspot seabream also fed upon pelagic gastropods while axillary seabream consumed bivalves and echinoids. Prey composition of the blackspot seabream diet varied mainly due to the use of different environments, and consequently prey availability. The feeding behavior of this species appears to be size related, as small individuals are mostly males and live preferentially in coastal areas and shallower waters, and exhibit different feeding habits from those observed for larger individuals, which are mainly females and live preferentially at offshore banks and deeper waters. Prey composition indicated that both predators have the ability to feed near the bottom on benthic prey as well as pelagic species in the water column. This study suggests that in addition to locally produced food, the productivity of many seamounts communities is also dependent on a regular supply of productivity that drift past seamounts. Although the results of the stomach contents analysis showed a significant feeding overlap, we suggest that they may not be sharing resources with each other, because the trophic activities of the two species are segregated by differences in habitat use. In this study, habitat partitioning appeared to be an important factor in preventing diet overlap.
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Unequal sex ratios in longline catches.
Wirtz, P. and T. Morato. 2001. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the U.K. 81: 187-188.

Abstract
There is sometimes a significant bias in the sex ratio of fishes caught by longline. Usually, more females than males are caught. We list and discuss possible reasons for unequal sex ratios in longline catches. One sex could be more common in the area where the fishery takes place because there really is an unequal sex ratio in the population or because the other sex preferentially occurs in different places. Alternatively, longline fishery might preferentially catch one of the sexes. This could be a result of size difference between the sexes and thus a different response to the given hook size or bait size. Finally, sexes could differ in their feeding behaviour. There is growing evidence that females - not only of fishes - are "energy maximizers": they find food faster and spend more time feeding than do males. Thus, fishing methods using bait are likely to catch a higher proportion of females than fishing methods that do not use bait.
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Weight-length relationships for 21 coastal fish species of the Azores, northeastern Atlantic.
Morato, T.; P. Afonso; P. Lourinho; J.P. Barreiros; R.S. Santos and R.D.M. Nash. 2001. Fisheries Research 50(3): 297-302.

Abstract
Length-weight relationships were estimated for 21 coastal fish species of the Azores, namely: Abudefduf luridus, Bothus podas, Chromis limbata, Coris julis, Diplodus sargus, Echiichthys vipera, Gaidropsarus guttatus, Labrus bergylta, Mullus surmuletus, Phycis phycis, Pomatomus saltator, Sarda sarda, Scorpaena maderensis, Scorpaena notata, Seriola rivoliana, Serranus atricauda, Sparisoma cretense, Sphyraena viridensis, Synodus saurus, Thalassoma pavo and Trachinotus ovatus. Significant length-weight relationships were found for all species. Sexual dimorphism did not affect the length-weight relationships, except in the cases of S. cretense and C. julis. Length-length equations for converting size measurements (SL and FL to TL) are also presented for all fish species.
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First record of the crabs Pirimela denticulata (Montagu, 1808) and Xaiva biguttata (Risso, 1816) (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the Azores.
Vieira, C.M. and T. Morato. 2001. Arquipélago. Life and Marine Sciences 18A: 87-89.

Abstract
The crabs Pirimela denticulata (Montagu, 1808) and Xaiva bigutatta (Risso, 1816) identified in stomach contents of striped red mullet, Mullus surmuletus ( Linnaeus, 1758) are recorded for the first time in Azorean waters, extending their known distribution range. A total of 59 individuals of P. denticulata and 12 of X. biguttata were identified in 22 and 10 mullets, respectively.
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Molecular insights into the taxonomic status of Coris atlantica (Pisces: Labridae).
Guillemaud, T.; M.L. Cancela; P. Afonso; T. Morato; R. S. Santos and P. Wirtz. 2000. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the U.K. 80: 929-933.

Abstract
A molecular genetic analysis of Coris julis from different sites in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and C. atlantica from the Cabo Verde Islands was applied to infer phylogenetic relationships between the taxa. More precisely, partial 12S mitochondrial rDNA sequence data were used in maximum parsimony, neighbour-joining, and maximum likelihood analysis to generate phylogenetic trees. The polymorphism observed indicated an important differentiation between the C. atlantica and C. julis specimens and supported the existence of two different species.
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Feeding habits, seasonal and ontogenetic diet shift of blacktail comber, Serranus atricauda (Pisces: Serranidae), from the Azores, Northeastern Atlantic.
Morato, T.; R.S. Santos and P. Andrade. 2000. Fisheries Research 49(1): 51-60.

Abstract
The stomach contents of 422 Serranus atricauda, sampled between June 1993 and September 1994 in the Azores (Northeast Atlantic) were examined. Fishes and crustaceans (Decapoda) were the main contents with gastropods, bivalves and thaliaceans secondary. Tripterygion delaisi was the most frequent prey species followed by Capros aper, Parablennius sp., Alpheus sp. and Xantho sp. The type and quantity of food ingested changed over season. S. atricauda are generalists that can feed opportunistically on alternative prey. They are diurnal predators. No ontogenetic differences were found in the diet composition and feeding activity within the range of sizes studied. There was a significant positive relation between mean prey width and predator size.
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Microsatellite characterization in the rainbow wrasse Coris julis (Pisces: Labridae).
Guillemaud, T., R. Streiff, R.S. Santos, P. Afonso, T. Morato and M.L. Cancela. 2000. Molecular Ecology 9: 631-632.

Abstract
Not available
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Diets of forkbeard (Phycis phycis) and conger eel (Conger conger) off the Azores during spring of 1996 and 1997.
Morato, T.; E. Solà; M.P. Grós and G. Menezes. 1999. Arquipélago: Life and Marine Sciences 17A: 51-64.

Abstract
The forkbeard, Phycis phycis, and conger eel, Conger conger, are two coastal species, with a wide bathymetric and geographical distribution. The longline fleet of the Azores catches these two important commercial species. Few studies on their diet composition were found in literature. Data were collected during the demersal cruise surveys that took place aboard the R/V "Arquipélago" during the spring of 1996 and 1997. Stomachs of 53 forkbeards and 95 conger eels were examined to define their diets. Both species fed primarily on fishes, mainly on two benthopelagic species (Capros aper and Macroramphosus scolopax). However, the relative importance of fish was higher for conger eel than for forkbeard, which fed secondarily on decapods. Prey composition of the diet did not vary between sexes, predator size or areas. However, some differences were found on diet composition between depth strata. Prey composition indicates that both predators have the ability to feed near the bottom on benthic prey or in the water column on benthopelagic species.
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