Publication Abstract

Small-scale variability in fish diet and whether or not this reflects local patterns of prey availability

John K. Pinnegar, Jeroen van der Kooij, Georg H. Engelhard, Julia L. Blanchard, Karema J. Warr and David Righton

Predation patterns in whiting, gurnard, haddock, mackerel, plaice and lesser-weeverfish have been studied at two small (20 ´ 33 km²) sampling grids in the central North Sea, differing in terms of the availability of sandeels and the intensity of sandeel fishing. Diets differed markedly between the two sampling grids and there were also clear statistical differences in the diversity, species composition and biomass of invertebrate fauna at each site, even though these were separated by only 28 km. Concurrent sampling of zooplankton and benthos at the two sites made it possible to examine which ‘explanatory variables’ (e.g. predator size, season, geographic location) are most important in determining diet composition and whether or not diet reflects local patterns of prey availability

Reference:

J.K. Pinnegar, J. van der Kooij, G.H. Engelhard, J.L. Blanchard, K.J. Warr and D. Righton (2006) Small-scale variability in fish diet and whether or not this reflects local patterns of prey availability. ICES CM2006/F:07