Abstract:
Fatty acid compositions m the tissue and feces of two mudskipper species;
Periophthalmus gracilis and Boleophthalmus boddarti, and sediment samples from
Pengkalan Gelap (Periophthalmus gracilis) and Kampung Fikri (Boleophthalmus
boddarti) which were collected in August and October 2007 from the mangrove area of
Setiu Wetlands were identified, in order to assess the diet of these two mudskippers. Both
species contain a total of 45 identifiable fatty acid methyl esters in their tissues, feces and
sediments where they were collected from. Total lipid concentration was highest in the
tissue of Periophthalmus gracilis when compared to the Boleophthalmus boddarti. There
were a total of five components of lipid that has been found in all samples which are
phospholipids, sterols, triglycerols, fatty acid and waxes. Fatty acid dominated the lipid
components in all samples, except for the sediment samples in Pengkalan Gelap and
Kampung Fikri in August. Overall, the tissue of Periophthalmus gracilis showed the
highest concentrations of PUF As, and the tissue of Boleophthalmus boddarti showed the
highest concentrations of MUF As. There were six food sources that can be identified in
the diets of mudskipper species Periophthalmus gracilis and Boleophthalmus boddarti,
namely bacteria, dinoflagellates, green macroalgae, mangrove detritus, diatoms, and
copepods. Bacteria were the major food sources that have been consumed by these two
mudskipper species in this study. The diet pattern of these mudskippers did not differ
significantly between August and October 2007 (p>0.05).
