FOOD PARTITIONING IN FOUR SPECIES OF PENAEID PRAWNS IN THE BOLGODA LAGOON SRI LANKA

Penaeid prawns of the Bolgoda Lagoon feed on Carldina spp, clams,Harpacticoid spp, Nerine and Nereis spp fish larvae, diatoms, greenleafy matter and detritus. Their frequency of occurance and the numberof crops containing a particular diet varies from species to species studied.The overlap co-efficient of food between two species of the same genus isgreater than that of two species of two different genera. vacuityindex of M. ensis indicated seasonality in feeding. The distribution ofprawns in the lagoon has a direct relationship to the benthic faunafiand ora.Key Words: Overlap co-efficient, Vacuity indexRunning Title: Food of penaeid prawns.Jinadasa