Annual changes in distribution depths of bighand thornyhead <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastolobus macrochir</Emphasis> off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu,Japan

ABSTRACT:   Body size dependent distribution patterns of bighand thornyhead Sebastolobus macrochir were examined using bottom trawl surveys in the Tohoku area, off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu, Japan. In northern and southern Tohoku, distribution depths of ≤10-cm standard length (SL) fish increased from 500–600 m in 2003 to 600–700 m in 2005 with an increase in density of 11–20-cm SL fish at depths of 500–600 m. In 2004–2005, small fish (≤10 cm SL) were distributed in deeper waters than large fish (11–20 cm SL). In ≤20-cm SL fish, the main distribution depths changed from 300–600 m in 1997–2002 to 500–600 m in 2003 in southern Tohoku, but not in northern Tohoku. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that negative correlations were found in biomass densities between a few demersal fish species and bighand thornyhead at depths of 300–400 and 400–500 m in southern Tohoku. These results suggest that distribution of bighand thornyhead was affected by intra- and interspecific competitions in the Tohoku area.     

Feeding habits of mesopelagic fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lampanyctus jordani</Emphasis> (Family: Myctophidae) over the continental slope off Tohoku area,northern Japan

ABSTRACT:   The feeding habits of Lampanyctus jordani , an abundant mesopelagic fish in the subarctic North Pacific, was examined based on the stomach contents of 721 specimens collected over the continental slope off the Tohoku area, Pacific coast of northern Japan during April and October from 1996 to 1998. The prey items comprised mainly crustaceans such as copepods, amphipods, euphausiids and decapods. Euphausiids were the most important items in the diet both during April and October. During April, when the annual maximum of zooplankton biomass occurred and the Oyashio Intrusion Current prevailed, L. jordani fed intensively and consumed a high proportion of Euphausia pacifica . These seasonal variations also influenced the feeding intensity and dietary diversity. Feeding intensity, measured by the stomach contents index, was higher during April than October, reflecting the higher biomass of zooplankton in the Tohoku area during spring. The dietary diversity of L. jordani was lower during April than October, indicating that L. jordani shifted to a wider variety of prey when the availability of E. pacifica was limited.     

Growth changes in bighand thornyhead <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastolobus macrochir</Emphasis> off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu,Japan

ABSTRACT:     The biomass of bighand thornyhead Sebastolobus macrochir was increased by the high recruitment success of the 1999–2002 year classes off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu, Japan. In this study, the growth of bighand thornyhead was examined over a 9-year period from 1996 to 2004 in this area. The growth of the 1999 year class and the 2000–2002 year classes was reduced at 3 and 2 years old, respectively, while the 1999–2002 year classes were smaller than the 1993–1998 year classes. In 2-, 3- and 4-year-old fish, the relationship between abundance and mean standard length was expressed by negative linear regressions, while fish became smaller when abundance of the year class was larger. Mean bottom temperatures were stable at depths of 350–900 m; variations in water temperature were small in the main distribution area of bighand thornyhead. We discuss the factors affecting the growth of bighand thornyhead via changes in the demersal fish community and feeding habits.     

海州湾大泷六线鱼摄食生态研究

根据2011年3—12月在海州湾及其邻近海域进行的5个航次底拖网调查,通过分析531尾大泷六线鱼(Hexagrammos otakii)的胃含物样品,对其摄食生态进行了初步研究。结果表明,大泷六线鱼摄食的饵料种类有60余种,虾类、蟹类、双壳类是其最主要的3种饵料类群,优势饵料生物有东方缝栖蛤(Hiatella orientalis)、疣背宽额虾(Latreutes planirostris)和钩虾(Gammarus sp.)等;其食物组成存在明显的季节变化和体长变化,全年均大量摄食虾类,夏季还摄食一定量的蟹类,秋季摄食多毛类和头足类的比例较高。随着体长的增长,大泷六线鱼摄食的饵料生物由小型甲壳类逐渐转变为体型较大的虾类和鱼类。大泷六线鱼的空胃率和平均胃饱满指数存在明显的季节变化,春季空胃率最高,冬季空胃率最低;平均胃饱满指数春季最高,秋季最低。典范对应分析表明,体长是影响大泷六线鱼摄食的主要因子,其次是底层水温、叶绿素a和pH。     

渤海小黄鱼摄食习性

根据2009年8月至2011年5月4个航次渤海底拖网调查所获得的样品,采用胃含物分析法、K-W检验和聚类分析等方法,对38～218 mm体长范围小黄鱼(Larimichthys polyactis)的摄食习性及其随体长、季节的变化进行了研究,并探讨了小黄鱼摄食随海域和年际的时空变化。结果表明:渤海小黄鱼摄食的饵料有40余种,主要以鱼类、虾类和浮游动物为食,优势饵料种类为六丝钝尾虾虎鱼(Amblychaeturichthys heaema)、日本鼓虾(Alpheus japonicus)、太平洋磷虾(Euphausia pacifia)、长额刺糠虾(Acanthomysis longirostris)和中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)。渤海小黄鱼在春夏秋这三个季节中,春季的摄食强度最低,夏季和秋季的摄食强度都较高,不同的是夏季摄食率更高,而秋季的摄食量更高。随着体长的增大,渤海小黄鱼的摄食策略发生了相应的变化。从摄食强度分析,在体长较小时,胃饱满指数低,小黄鱼通过高摄食率来提高摄食强度;随着体长的增加,通过高胃饱满指数来提高摄食强度。从摄食的饵料个体分析,小黄鱼采取了随着体长增加摄食饵料个数减少,饵料个体增大的摄食策略。从摄食的饵料组成分析,小黄鱼随着体长增加发生了显著的食性转换现象:体长小于60 mm属浮游动物食性;体长60～99 mm时,属混合动物食性;体长100～119 mm时,属虾食性;体长超过120 mm,包括了虾/鱼食性和鱼食性。小黄鱼摄食的时空变化与环境中优势饵料生物的数量波动密切相关。     

长江口斑尾刺虾虎鱼的摄食习性

2014年6月至2015年5月,在长江口东旺沙、东风西沙和青草沙潮间带水域隔月进行插网作业,共采集到459尾斑尾刺虾虎鱼(Acanthogobius ommaturus)样品,分析其胃含物。结果表明,斑尾刺虾虎鱼共摄食12类37种生物,主要摄食虾类,其次是鱼类、蟹类等。其饵料生物组成随季节和体长的不同而有所变化,除四季均大量摄食虾类以外,春季还摄食糠虾类和蟹类,夏季还摄食鱼类,冬季还摄食糠虾类;体长70 mm的斑尾刺虾虎鱼主要以幼鱼为食,同时还摄食大量的糠虾类和磷虾类,体长70~189 mm的个体主要摄食虾类和鱼类,体长189 mm的个体主要以鱼类为食。聚类分析结果表明,斑尾刺虾虎鱼秋季的饵料生物组成与春、夏、冬季相比,存在较大差异;体长70 mm的斑尾刺虾虎鱼食物组成与体长≥70 mm相比,存在较大差异。斑尾刺虾虎鱼的摄食强度也有显著的季节和体长变化,Kruskal-Wallis非参数秩检验结果表明,不同季节组和体长组平均胃饱满系数均差异显著(P0.01);列联表检验结果表明,不同季节斑尾刺虾虎鱼的空胃率不存在显著差异(P0.05),不同体长组空胃率差异显著(P0.01)。通过计算Spearman等级相关系数得到饵料生物体长与斑尾刺虾虎鱼体长之间呈显著的正相关(rs=0.263,P0.01)。此外,摄食饵料平均重量和个数随着斑尾刺虾虎鱼体长的增大而增大,符合"最佳摄食理论"。因此,斑尾刺虾虎鱼的摄食习性不仅与环境中饵料生物丰度有关,也与其自身生长发育有关。     

莱州湾鱼类群落的营养结构及其变化

2011年5月~2012年4月期间对莱州湾进行了9次底拖网调查,对采集的20种鱼类4 854个胃含物样品进行了分析。结果表明,莱州湾鱼类群落包括浮游动物食性、底栖动物食性、鱼食性、杂食性和广食性5种食性类型,其中底栖动物食性鱼类是莱州湾各月份鱼类群落的重要食性类型,钩虾和双壳类等底栖动物饵料在莱州湾生态系统的食物关系中起着关键的作用。秋末和初春的莱州湾鱼类群落以底栖动物食性鱼类为主,食性类型单一;随着水温升高,鱼类群落的食性类型逐渐变得丰富。分析表明,莱州湾海域鱼类群落的营养结构有利于增殖放流品种后期的生长存活,建议跟踪调查增殖放流点周边海域的食物关系和饵料基础,同时结合多学科调查,选择最佳的增殖放流地点和时间,才能切实有效地保证增殖放流的效果。     

海州湾秋季小眼绿鳍鱼的摄食策略及食物选择性

基于2011年及2013—2015年秋季在海州湾海域进行底拖网调查数据,通过分析733尾小眼绿鳍鱼(Chelidonichthys spinosus)的胃含物样品,对其食物组成、摄食强度、摄食策略以及食物选择性等摄食生态特征进行初步研究。结果表明,小眼绿鳍鱼摄食饵料生物共有80余种,其中优势饵料种类为细螯虾(Leptochela gracilis)、戴氏赤虾(Metapenaeopsis dalei)、疣背宽额虾(Latreutes planirostris)、双斑蟳(Charybdis bimaculata)、细条天竺鲷(Apogon lineatus)等。聚类分析结果显示,小眼绿鳍鱼的食物组成无明显体长变化。不同体长组小眼绿鳍鱼的空胃率差异不显著(P0.05),平均胃饱满指数差异显著(P0.05)。广义加性模型(GAM)分析表明,底层盐度、底层水温和纬度对小眼绿鳍鱼的摄食强度有显著影响(P0.05),而体长、经度和水深的影响则不显著(P0.05)。摄食策略分析表明,小眼绿鳍鱼是以虾类和鱼类为主要饵料类群的广食性鱼类。通过计算食物选择性指数发现,小眼绿鳍鱼喜食饵料与实际摄食的主要饵料种类存在一定差异,表明其摄食既具有较强的主动选择性,同时又受到海州湾饵料丰度和可获得性等因素的影响。     

海州湾春季皮氏叫姑鱼摄食习性的空间异质性及其索饵场分布

鱼类通过摄食维持自身的生存、生长和繁殖,对鱼类摄食习性的空间异质性及其索饵场分布进行研究有助于了解鱼类在不同海域间的生长差异。本研究根据2011年及2013―2016年春季在海州湾进行的渔业资源底拖网调查数据,通过胃含物分析研究皮氏叫姑鱼(Johniusbelangerii)的摄食习性,依据胃含物分析结果选择主要饵料生物,结合皮氏叫姑鱼和主要饵料生物的空间分布,研究皮氏叫姑鱼摄食习性的空间异质性,并判别其索饵场。结果表明:皮氏叫姑鱼摄食的饵料生物共有20余种,其中虾类(IRI%=55.54%)和端足类(IRI%=35.94%)为优势饵料类群。基于胃含物分析和底拖网调查,选择海蜇虾(Latreutesanoplonyx)、细巧仿对虾(Parapenaeopsistenella)、鲜明鼓虾(Alpheus distinguendus)、疣背宽额虾(Latreutes planirostris)、细螯虾(Leptochela gracilis)、戴氏赤虾(Metapenaeopsis dalei)、日本鼓虾(Alpheus japonicus)和中华安乐虾(Eualus sinensis) 8种饵料生物研究皮氏叫姑鱼摄食习性的空间异质性及其索饵场。摄食选择性的研究表明,海州湾春季的皮氏叫姑鱼喜食海蜇虾。本研究发现,皮氏叫姑鱼及其主要饵料生物资源丰度重心均位于海州湾中部10～20m深海域;海州湾中南部10～20m海域的饵料生物资源丰度显著高于其他海域(P0.05),而且该海域皮氏叫姑鱼的个体较小,生长速度较快,摄食强度较高,是其主要的索饵场。     

Condition and recruitment of Aristeus antennatus at great depths (to 2,300 m) in the Mediterranean: Relationship with environmental factors

Depth and seasonal trends in the biological condition and recruitment of the red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) have been analyzed over the slope to 2,233 m in the western Mediterranean. The best biological condition of A. antennatus (gonadosomatic index [GSI]) for mating and spawning occurred at 800–1,300 m in summer, in areas deeper than the fishing grounds distributed between 500 and 800 m. Females moved shallower to feed on the upper slope during periods of water‐mass homogeneity (autumn–winter), increasing their hepatic gland weight (hepatosomatic index [HSI]). Females moved downslope (800–1,100 m) to spawn (high GSI) during periods of water mass stratification (late spring–summer). The HSI of females decreased with depth down the slope in autumn, after the reproductive period. Small juveniles were distributed deeper than 1,000 m, associated with high near‐bottom O₂ levels, low turbidity and high C:N in sediments, implying favorable trophic conditions. This confirms the importance in studying the biology of deep‐sea species over their entire depth range. The progressive warming and increasing salinity of deep Mediterranean waters could provoke a decrease of dissolved O₂ that would affect the life cycle of A. antennatus.     

Migration of kawakawa Euthynnus affinis in the waters near Taiwan

ABSTRACT:   Kawakawa Euthynnus affinis is the most abundant species among the small tuna in the coastal waters of Taiwan. The migration pattern of kawakawa to Taiwan was determined in the present study based on the species' feeding habits and reproductive biology and on temporal variation of catch for kawakawa and its prey fishes. Schools of this species successively migrate to Taiwan from September to May, and then move away in June. They travel to the waters off Taiwan with the warm Kuroshio current, migrate toward coastal waters for feeding and move away for spawning. It is suggested in the present study that the kawakawa spawning ground is in the waters of the northern Philippines. The migration of kawakawa exhibits size-segregating behavior. Schools of immature young fish first arrive in the coastal waters around Taiwan, followed by the adults.     

Value-per-recruit analysis of bighand thornyhead <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastolobus macrochir</Emphasis> caught off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu,Japan

The yield-per-recruit (YPR) analysis has been used to assess growth overfishing of exploited fish stocks. Since the ex-vessel price per weight widely depends on the size of the fish, the result of the YPR does not imply the revenue. The value-per-recruit (VPR) analysis, which is an economic expansion of the YPR analysis, was conducted for bighand thornyhead Sebastolobus macrochir caught off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu, Japan. The results showed that, for the current age at first capture (t _c = 3), the current fishing mortality (F = 0.12) was close to the optimum level. However, for the current F, optimum t _c in the VPR model was 8 years and would lead to a 47% increase compared to the current revenue. The maximum YPR was obtained at t _c = 6 years, but the revenue at t _c = 6 only gave a 20% increase in the maximum revenue. The difference was caused by the size dependency of the ex-vessel price per weight. The VPR model would generate fisheries management plans with both economical and biological consideration and would help in making general consensus of fisheries management strategies.     

No room for dessert: A mechanistic model of prey selection in gut‐limited predatory fish

Predatory fish structure communities through prey pursuit and consumption and, in many marine systems, the gadoids are particularly important. These predators have flexible feeding behaviours and often feed on large prey items. Digestion times of large prey are usually longer than handling times, and gut processing limits feeding rate at high prey density. Optimizing the gut content mix can therefore be an important behavioural strategy. Here, we develop a foraging model that incorporates gut processing and use the model to disentangle internal and external limitations on feeding in the omnivorous cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae). We extend the traditional definition of prey profitability to consider prey digestive quality, which we quantify for prey of Northeast Atlantic cod populations. We find an important role for gut limitation; within a range of ecologically relevant temperatures and prey densities, predicted feeding rates were strongly reduced compared to feeding constrained by external factors only, and the optimal diet composition under gut limitation differed from predictions from traditional foraging theory. Capelin, a main prey of Northeast Arctic cod, had the highest digestive quality of all prey across ecosystems, but the cold temperatures in the Barents Sea strongly limited feeding rate by slowing down digestion. Baltic cod fed on a higher proportion of poor‐quality prey compared to the other populations, contributing to its slow growth in relation to water temperature. Gut limitation is particularly important to consider in foraging models for fish with many alternative prey species or fish occupying cold waters where digestion is slow.     

Prey selectivity in planktivorous juvenile fishes associated with floating objects in the western Mediterranean

Aspects of the feeding ecology of planktivorous juvenile fishes were assessed by comparing stomach content samples from purse seine catches with food environment samples from vertical hauls of a WP-2 mesozooplankton net. Sampling was performed fortnightly over 2 years, around moored experimental floating objects and at open water control stations in oceanic Mediterranean waters. Species composition, abundance and seasonal occurrence of both potential prey (zooplankton) and predators (fish) were studied. Dietary composition was examined for six fish species, and prey selectivity was assessed by means of several selectivity indices: Ivlev's selectivity index, linear food selection index and forage ratio. A comparison of the results showed significant variations among indices, related to both the degree of selection and the relative abundance of the food type in the environment. Most fish caught were pelagic juveniles, and had fed on plankton; however, there was variability in diet composition and prey selectivity among species allowing their separation into generalists and specialists. The pilot fish Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus) was a specialist, preying upon neustonic hyperiid amphipods, whereas the three congeneric species of Trachurus: T. picturatus (Bowdich), T. trachurus (Linnaeus) and T. mediterraneus (Steinachner) fed on copepods and other planktonic crustaceans. The species studied appeared to partition food resources to minimize the overlap in use of a very specific habitat.     

Food resource partitioning of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.) and three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., in the littoral zone of lake Takvatn in northern Norway

The food resource partitioning of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) and three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.) were investigated in the littoral zone of lake Takvatn in northern Norway in the ice-free period June–November. Charr and sticklebacks had different feeding habits. Sticklebacks ate several small benthic prey items that were never eaten by charr, and the sticklebacks' diet were dominated by the benthic microcrustaceans Chydoridae and Ostracoda, chironomid larvae and stickleback eggs. Small charr (<17 cm) consumed a wide spectrum of chironomid pupae, terrestrial insects and zooplankton. Intermediate (17–20 cm) and small charr had quite similar feeding habits, while large charr (>20 cm) frequently ate both benthos, pelagic and terrestrial food. The diet overlap between small charr and sticklebacks was never larger than 0.6 (Schoener's index). The segregation in feeding habits indicates that small charr and sticklebacks are segregated in microhabitat when they are both in the littoral zone.     

Shift happens: Evaluating the ability of autumn stocked walleye Sander vitreus to shift to natural prey

Hatchery propagation techniques, such as pellet-rearing, can result in altered feeding behaviour. Walleye Sander vitreus (Mitchill) is a commonly propagated sportfish, yet little is known regarding its ability to switch to live prey post-stocking. The objectives were to evaluate temporal changes in diet composition and condition as well as evaluate the relationship between total length and presence of different prey consumed by stocked walleye fry and fingerlings. Fingerling walleye had higher average proportions of empty stomachs and benthic invertebrates but less fish that stocked walleye fry. The presence of zooplankton, benthic invertebrates or fish was not related to walleye length. Walleye condition was similar between cohorts and did not change over days post-stocking. Percent similarity index values between cohorts were variable (0.0 to 67.9%). It was concluded that stocked walleye fingerlings consume lower quality prey items than stocked fry counterparts at least up to 49-day post-stocking, which may have implications for post-stocking survival.     

Interannual and interdecadal variability in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) diets in relation to environmental changes in the northern California Current

The feeding habits of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, in the northern California Current were examined using samples from two different time periods (1980–85 and 1998–2003) of highly contrasting oceanographic conditions. The goal was to test the influence of interannual and interdecadal changes in taxonomic composition of prey, feeding intensity, and size spectra of teleost prey. Analyses were done for samples taken both early in the summer (June) shortly after the salmon enter the ocean, and also in late summer (September) following some ocean residency. Fish prey dominated coho salmon diets by weight during most years, but this trend was more pronounced during the 1980–85 sampling period. In terms of numerical composition, the diets were more variable on an interannual basis, but decapod larvae and euphausiids were important prey in most years. Pteropods and copepods were important prey during weak upwelling or El Niño years, whereas euphausiids were important during strong upwelling or otherwise highly productive years. Hyperiid amphipods comprised a substantial proportion of the diets only in 2000. Coho salmon showed highly significant differences in prey composition among years or between decades both in weight and numerical composition. The percentage of empty stomachs was highly variable by year in both June and September, but was significantly different only for September between decades. In contrast, an index of feeding intensity did not show many significant changes in either comparison. However, the relative size ratios for fish prey consumed were highly variable by year, and larger than average fish prey were consumed during 1998, leading to the highest feeding intensity observed.     

基于生态网络结构的浙江南部近海鱼类群落关键种识别

对2016-2019年浙江南部近海底拖网采集的主要鱼类进行食性分析,并结合前期摄食习性资料,以种间营养关系为基础构建浙江南部近海鱼类群落的食物网拓扑,以拓扑网络指标结合KPP运算确定该海域的鱼类群落关键种.结果表明:(1)对浙江南部近海的34种主要鱼类开展胃含物分析,共形成营养连接数276对.(2)拓扑食物网中带鱼(T...     

山东半岛东南部海域星康吉鳗资源密度时空分布及其与环境因子之间关系

为了解山东半岛东南部海域星康吉鳗资源密度时空变化及其与环境因子之间的关系,实验根据2016年10月和2017年1月、5月、8月山东半岛东南部海域4个航次底拖网调查数据,利用广义可加模型(GAM)分析了星康吉鳗资源密度时空分布特征及其与环境因子之间的关系。结果发现,星康吉鳗资源密度及分布具有明显的季节变化。春季,山东近海星康吉鳗资源密度为66.38 kg/h,夏季资源密度达到一年中最大值,为87.31 kg/h,秋季资源密度为79.01 kg/h,冬季资源密度大幅度降低,仅为10.44 kg/h。GAM模型结果显示,水深和海水底层温度对星康吉鳗资源分布影响最大。春季,星康吉鳗资源密度与水深、底温呈正相关关系,其分布范围较广,主要分布在海州湾中部海域(35°N沿线分布最多);夏季,其空间分布受水深影响,主要集中分布在水深20～30 m的山东半岛南部近岸海域;秋季,水深、底温、饵料生物量与星康吉鳗资源密度呈正相关,此时星康吉鳗分布较分散。冬季,星康吉鳗资源密度与水深呈正相关,此时主要分布在受黄海暖流影响的海州湾北部海域以及123.5°E～124°E海域。研究表明,星康吉鳗资源分布与其洄游习性和海域水温等水文特征的季节性变动有关,其分布特征在春季、冬季分别受青岛冷水团与黄海暖流影响显著。本研究有助于了解山东近海星康吉鳗群体的生活习性,为其资源的养护和管理提供依据。     

春季长江口近海中华鲟的食物组成

2017年3月19日,在长江口近海采集到1 ind中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis),全长133.0 cm、体质量13.8 kg,对其食物组成进行了分析。食性分析结果显示,春季中华鲟在长江口近海摄食较好,摄食强度为4级,饵料生物共有6种,其中鱼类有黄鲫(Setipinna taty)、焦氏舌鳎(Cynoglossus joyneri)和龙头鱼(Harpadon nehereus)3种,甲壳类有中华管鞭虾(Solenocera crassicornis)和口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)2种,头足类仅四盘耳乌贼(Euprymna morsei)1种。结合历史资料分析认为,中下层和底层鱼类是近海中华鲟最主要的饵料生物。