Publication Abstract

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

J.K. Pinnegar, J.L. Blanchard, J. van der Kooij, K.J. Warr and D. Righton

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

Reference:

J.K. Pinnegar, J.L. Blanchard, J. van der Kooij, 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: