The food habits of two schooling planktivorous fishes, Sardinella gibbosa and Atherinomorous lacunosus, were investigated in Mtwapa creek and Wasini Channel of the Kenya coast. Spatial and temporal variations in their food and feeding habits were assessed using the percentage numerical abundance method, percentage frequency of occurrence, stomach fullness indices and the Tokeshi graphical method. This study established a clear spatial separation of Mtwapa creek from Wasini Channel in terms of the abiotic and biotic data. Highly significant differences (t-test, p < 0.05) were observed between the two study areas in temperature, salinity, transparency, conductivity, chlorophyll a and in zooplankton abundance and diversity. The diet of the two fish species... |