Harri Pettitt-Wade

MRes Applied Fish Biology; BSc Marine Biology
University of Windsor · Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research

Currently studying a PhD in the Feeding Ecology of Aquatic Invasive Species at Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Ontario. My main interests are in predator-prey interaction, aquatic animal nutrition, environmental science and feeding ecology/biology.

Research interests

  • Interests
    Fish Biology, Invasive Species, Fish Nutrition, Mangroves, Marine Conservation, Stable isotope, Catfish, Nutritional Ecology, Sustainable Aquaculture, Predator - Prey Interaction, Lemon Shark, Fish Toxicology, Sharks, Trace Elements, Acoustic Telemetry, Enzyme Activity

Publications

  • Dietary metal and macro-nutrient intakes of juvenile lemon sharks determined from the nutritional composition of prey items

    Harri Pettitt-Wade, Steven P. Newman, Kristene T. Parsons, Samuel H. Gruber, Richard D. Handy

    Marine Ecology Progress Series. 01/2011; 433:245-260.

    The trace element requirements of sharks are poorly understood and the dietary intake of metals from prey items in wild sharks has not been measured. In this study whole prey of nursery bound juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, from Bimini, Bahamas were analysed for carcass total protein,... [more] The trace element requirements of sharks are poorly understood and the dietary intake of metals from prey items in wild sharks has not been measured. In this study whole prey of nursery bound juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, from Bimini, Bahamas were analysed for carcass total protein, lipids, carbohydrates, ash content, energy, and elemental composition. Metal analysis included 415 prey items from 18 species (fish: Atherinidae, Belonidae, Gerreidae, Haemulidae, Lutjanidae, Scaridae, Sphyraenidae; decapod crustaceans: Penaeidae, Portunidae). There were some seasonal and location effects (North Sound versus South Bimini shark nurseries), but overall prey metal concentrations were broadly similar to reports for temperate species. Yellow fin mojarra Gerres cinereus dominate the shark diet, in which electrolytes were similar (Na, 10; K, 10; Ca 65; and Mg 2 mg g-1 dry weight) but trace metals were higher (Cu, 2.4; Zn, 96; Fe, 63; Mn 0.7 µg g-1 dry weight) than in other prey fish species at Bimini. Swimming crabs (Portunidae) were an important source of dietary Ca, Mg, Cu and Mn for lemon sharks. The calculated daily dietary metal intakes (mg day-1) for Cu (0.17), Fe (1.2) and Mn (0.01) of lemon sharks are below previously estimated requirements of other fish. Dietary salt intake (272 mg Na day-1, 1% dietary salt) is similar to other fishes, but the Ca and Zn intakes are higher. Yellow fin mojarra contained 65% protein, 4% lipid, 23% ash. The average juvenile lemon shark (1.85 kg, 24.84 g daily ration) ate a very lean high protein diet (61.9% protein, 4.6% lipid, 24.9% ash, 8.6% carbohydrate), with a calculated energy intake of 397 KJ per day-1. Overall, the data suggests the gross macronutrient composition of the shark diet is adequate, but some of the trace metals may be limiting in the diet of wild juvenile lemon sharks at Bimini.
  • The nutritional intake of juvenile lemon sharks from Bimini, Bahamas. Completed as part of a thesis in MRes Applied Fish Biology.

    Harri Pettitt-Wade

    01/2008

    Degree: MRes Applied Fish Biology

    Supervisor: Prof. Richard D. Handy

Following (23)

2
Publications
45
Followers