Age-Based Food Preferences of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) Inhabiting Fish Lakes in the Bafra District of Samsun Province (Lakes Tath and Gici)

Abstract

The stomach contents of 122 common carp (Cyprinus carpio L., 1758) individuals collected from lakes Tatli and Gicl between January 2000 and December 2000 were investigated. The Geometric Index of Importance (GII) was used to determine food preferences among individuals and to assess whether these preferences were age based. It was concluded that the diet preferences of the common carp were not dependent on age and comprise a wide variety of food items present in their natural habitat. The results are presented in tables and figures.