MAISHA - Mediterranean Archive of Integrated Stomach and feeding Habits Analysis

In the Mediterranean, although dietary studies are increasing, marine trophic data remain fragmented. Here, we present the MAISHA (Mediterranean Archive of Integrated Stomach and Feeding Habits Analyses) dataset, resulting from a standardisation process across 213 stomach content studies involving 287 species (248 of which are fish).

Prey and consumer data were standardised taxonomically using WoRMS, and diet contributions were normalised. Geographic and taxonomic biases are evident, with most studies concentrated in the Western Mediterranean Sea and a lack of data on bottom prey, such as invertebrates, and top predators (e.g., elasmobranchs). The collection revealed heterogeneity in reported diet measures and in the taxonomic resolution of prey.