应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术分析胶州湾方氏云鳚的摄食习性

根据2011年5月在胶州湾进行的底拖网调查, 应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术对胶州湾方氏云鳚(Enedrias fangi) 的食物组成、营养级和摄食习性的体长变化等方面进行研究。结果表明, 胶州湾方氏云鳚的δ¹⁵N值范围是10.14‰~15.50‰, 跨度为5.36‰, 平均值为(12.83±1.10)‰; δ¹³C值范围是–21.52‰ ~–18.14‰, 跨度为3.38‰, 平均值为(–20.42±0.73)‰。方氏云鳚的饵料生物主要包括鲜明鼓虾(Alpheus distinguendus)、鹰爪虾(Trachypenaeus curvirostris)、海蜇虾(Latreutes anoplonyx)、疣背宽额虾(Latreutes planirostris)、沙蚕、粒径大于900 μm的浮游动物, 其中以海蜇虾和粒径大于900 μm的浮游动物为主, 贡献率分别为47%~66%和35%~40%; 其他饵料生物的重要性由高到低依次为沙蚕、疣背宽额虾、鹰爪虾和鲜明鼓虾, 其贡献率分别为0%~15%、0%~5%、0%~5%、0%~2%。经Pearson相关性检验发现, δ¹⁵N与方氏云鳚的体长无显著相关(P>0.05), 而δ¹³C与方氏云鳚体长呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。以δ¹⁵N计算方氏云鳚各体长组的营养级范围为3.33~3.79, 平均营养级为3.65±0.14, 并不随着鱼体长的增加而升高。与以往的研究相比,方氏云鳚的食物组成和营养级均发生了一定程度的变化,基础饵料生物的波动和分析方法的不同可能是导致变化的主要原因。另外,基线生物、富集度以及样品数量和体长范围的不同也是导致方氏云鳚营养级存在差异的原因之一。本研究旨在深入了解方氏云鳚在胶州湾生态系统中所处的地位和作用,为今后深入研究胶州湾生物群落的营养结构以及食物网的物质循环和能量流动提供基础资料。

     

Population dynamics of portunid crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Charybdis bimaculata</Emphasis> in Ise Bay,central Japan

ABSTRACT:   The present study dealt with seasonal and interannual variations in the abundance and biomass, and spatio-temporal distributions of the portunid crab Charybdis bimaculata dominant in Ise Bay, central Japan. The abundance and biomass of the crab decreased in summer when the oxygen-poor water developed in central or inner parts of the bay, and then increased through new recruits from autumn (October–November) to the following spring (March–May) when the oxygen-poor water disappeared. Berried females were collected mainly from spring to autumn. Recruits were collected in any season. Particularly in winter, most recruits were located in the innermost part of the bay. According to the cohort separation based on size frequency distribution in carapace width of the crab specimens, the cohorts that were derived from spawning in spring to summer largely contributed to establishing and maintaining the benthic populations for the following year in the bay, whereas those from other seasons failed to recruit because of serious damage caused by the oxygen-poor water. Most crab individuals one year post hatch contributed to spawning and then died by the winter of the same year.     

Reproductive potential and recruitment of sand lance <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ammodytes personatus</Emphasis> in Ise Bay,central Japan

Regular samplings of the Japanese sand lance Ammodytes personatus were carried out between 1991 and 2003 in Ise Bay in central Japan to estimate the number of adults, egg production and the number of recruits. The estimated minimum and maximum number of adults was 0.48 billion and 37.64 billion (78.4-fold variation). Age-one adults dominated in each year, and they comprised more than 80% of the total population in ten years out of the twelve years of observations. The total egg production ranged from 0.5 to 22.2 trillion (44.4-fold variation), and the total number of recruits ranged from 3.36 to 102.83 billion (30.6-fold variation). These interannual variations were both smaller than the interannual variations in the number of adults. As the total number of adults increased, the total egg production gradually became asymptotic at the saturation level, and the egg production per adult female decreased. In addition, the number of recruits per egg decreased as the total number of adults increased. It was suggested that both egg production and the initial process of mortality before recruitment exhibit density dependency.     

Feeding habits of the darkfin hind Cephalopholis urodeta (Serranidae) at Iriomote Island, southern Japan

ABSTRACT: The feeding habits of the serranid fish Cephalopholis urodeta were examined on the basis of 204 adult specimens collected from coral reef areas at Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Sampling was conducted in November 1997 and February, May, and August 1998. Among the specimens, 95 (46.6%) had empty stomachs, the mean Stomach Fullness Index of the specimens overall being extremely low (0.6). Over a 1-year period, the most important prey of this species were small fishes and decapod crustaceans, the two categories together constituting 73.4% of stomach contents by weight. However, seasonal differences in basic dietary composition were apparent. Fishes were abundant in the diet in May and November, whereas the proportion of hermit crabs in the diet was higher in February compared to other months.     

基于碳、氮稳定同位素技术的大亚湾紫海胆食性分析

为掌握大亚湾紫海胆(Heliocidaris crassispina)的食性特征,应用碳、氮稳定同位素技术对2015年8月所采集紫海胆样本的稳定同位素特征、营养级和食性特征进行了初步研究。结果表明,大亚湾紫海胆平均δ~(13)C值为-(13.35±1.21)‰,平均δ~(15)N值为(9.14±0.38)‰,平均营养级为2.11±0.14。不同壳径紫海胆之间的碳、氮稳定同位素比值无显著性差异(P0.05)。大亚湾海域紫海胆生活环境周围生物δ~(13)C值分布范围为-20.76‰~-9.93‰,δ~(15)N值分布范围为-0.16‰~14.99‰,营养级范围为1.34~3.77。大亚湾主要生物种类可划分为悬浮物、初级生产者和初级消费者、次级消费者、顶级消费者4个营养组群,其中紫海胆属于次级消费者。8月份调查海域珊瑚稀少,大型海藻密度低且死亡降解形成颗粒有机物(Particulate Organic Matter,POM),陆源POM随降雨大量流入大亚湾,导致紫海胆在8月份摄食偏向碎屑食物链,主要食物来源为POM,平均贡献率为67.3%;其余摄食种类为沉积物(Sediment Organic Matter,SOM)、裂叶马尾藻(Scagassum siliquastrum)、底栖硅藻、浮游动物及浮游植物,平均贡献率分别为9.7%、9.3%、6.7%、3.7%及3.3%。大亚湾紫海胆摄食种类与其栖息地底栖生物存在重叠,具有一定的食物竞争关系。研究表明,分析紫海胆食性特征对了解其所在生态系统中营养级水平具有重要意义。     

珠江斑鱯的食性

根据对珠江斑鱯的资源调查结果,从饵料生物种类组成、出现频率、不同体长斑鱯的食物组成差异、食性的季节变化等方面研究了珠江斑鱯食性特点。表明天然水域中斑鱯主要以甲壳类、昆虫类、鱼类、环节动物、植物碎屑等为食,其中甲壳类的出现频率高达78．6％,水生昆虫的出现频率为45．8％。其食物类群的季节变化明显,但没有出现停止摄食的时期,斑鲼在春季的摄食强度最大,各类食物在春季出现的频率均高于其它季节,斑鱯摄食率和充塞度的季节变化是一致的。不同体长斑鱯的饵料有一定的转化或更替阶段,约170mm体长时为主要饵料转化的第一阶段,约240mm体长时为主要饵料转化的第二阶段,随着斑鱯体长的增长,其摄食饵料的个体变大,但种类减少。     

海州湾星康吉鳗的摄食生态特征

根据2011年3—12月在海州湾及其邻近海域进行的5个航次的底拖网调查,通过分析516尾星康吉鳗(Conger myriaster)的胃含物样品,对其食物组成、食性类型、摄食强度、营养生态位以及营养级等摄食生态特征进行了初步研究。结果表明,星康吉鳗摄食的饵料种类有40余种,鱼类、虾类和头足类是其最主要的3种饵料类群,优势饵料生物有尖海龙(Syngnathus acus)、矛尾虾虎鱼(Chaeturichthys stigmatias)、鲜明鼓虾(Alpheus distinguendus)、枪乌贼(Loligo sp.)等。星康吉鳗的食性类型以底栖动物和游泳动物食性为主,其食物组成存在明显的季节变化和肛长变化,除在4个季节均摄食大量的鱼类和虾类外,秋季还摄食大量头足类。不同肛长组星康吉鳗摄食的主要饵料种类存在明显差异:肛长小于70 mm的星康吉鳗主要摄食枪乌贼,70~99 mm的星康吉鳗主要摄食绯(Callionymus beniteguri)和鲜明鼓虾,大于100 mm的星康吉鳗则主要以枪乌贼、尖海龙(Syngnathus acus)和鲜明鼓虾为食。星康吉鳗的空胃率和平均胃饱满指数存在明显的季节变化,空胃率夏季最低,春季最高;平均胃饱满指数春季最低,秋季最高。星康吉鳗的营养级为4.17,表明其在海州湾食物网中处于较高的营养位置。本研究发现,海州湾星康吉鳗的摄食随季节和肛长的变化,主要与其栖息海域中优势饵料生物的种类组成和丰度有关,因此,通过定期监测星康吉鳗的摄食可间接了解基础饵料生物种类和数量的变动情况,同时也为食物网的构建和生态系统营养动力学的研究提供基础资料。     

瓣结鱼食性的研究

以采自贵州境内清水江、都柳江的318尾瓣结鱼(Tor(Foliter)brevifilis brevifilis)为研究对象,从食物组成、摄食强度和摄食形态学等方面研究了瓣结鱼食性的特点。结果表明:瓣结鱼的食物由双翅目昆虫幼虫等17类饵料生物组成,并以双翅目昆虫幼虫的出现率最高。瓣结鱼的充塞度按春、夏、秋、冬季逐渐增高,季节性变化明显。充塞指数随体长生长显著减少,而摄食率则随体长生长逐渐增加。充塞指数和摄食率均以V期性腺个体为最低。瓣结鱼为底层杂食性鱼类。     

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。     

Spatial distribution and feeding habits of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) larvae in Mutsu Bay, Japan

The spatial distributions and feeding habits of Pacific cod ( Gadus macrocephalus ) larvae, and the spatial distributions of copepod nauplii and copepodites, their main prey, were examined in Mutsu Bay from February to March during 1989–92. Yolk-sac larvae were caught at 30–45 m depth at the bay mouth. Larvae without yolk were collected at 8–45 m depth at the bay mouth and the inner part of the bay, and large larvae were chiefly found in the bay. This geographical pattern in larval size may have been because of transport to the inner part of Mutsu Bay by the Tsugaru Warm Current. The dominant taxa of copepod nauplii and copepodites in the diet and the environment changed each year. Larvae fed mainly on abundant taxa in the environment, suggesting that larvae are opportunistic feeders. Nauplii and copepodites were abundant in the bay, especially in 1992. Copepodites were slightly more abundant in the diet of cod larvae in 1992 than in 1991, but this difference was smaller than in the environment. In addition, larvae with empty digestive tracts were scarce in 1991 and 1992. Prey concentrations in the bay in 1991 and 1992 seem to have been high enough to sustain most Pacific cod larvae.     

基于稳定同位素的口虾蛄食性分析

为了探讨口虾蛄的食物组成,利用稳定同位素方法对2015年5月在汕尾红海湾海域采集的口虾蛄及其饵料生物的碳、氮稳定同位素比值(δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值)进行分析,定量研究不同饵料生物在口虾蛄食物中的贡献比率。结果表明,口虾蛄的δ~(13)C值为–18.1‰~–16.3‰,δ~(15)N值为10.9‰~13.5‰,平均值分别为–17.1‰±0.5‰和12.7‰±0.7‰。δ~(13)C和δ~(15)N值的变化范围均较大,表明口虾蛄的食物来源较多。口虾蛄的食物主要由鱼类、虾类、贝类、蟹类和桡足类组成。其中,贝类为口虾蛄的主要食物,平均贡献率为38.6%;其次为蟹类和桡足类,平均贡献率分别为22.9%和16.0%;虾类的平均贡献率为13.6%;鱼类的平均贡献率最低,仅为8.9%。根据δ~(15)N值及营养级的计算公式得出,口虾蛄的营养级为3.01±0.22,在其5类食物中,桡足类的营养级最低,仅为1.77±0.12;其次为贝类;蟹类和虾类的营养级分别为2.78±0.21和2.89±0.16;鱼类的最高,为2.98±0.15;它们的营养级均低于口虾蛄。此外相关分析显示,口虾蛄的δ~(15)N值与其个体体质量间存在极显著的正相关关系,说明不同大小的口虾蛄营养级有所差异。     

淀山湖光泽黄颡鱼食性研究

于2009年8月至2010年7月在上海市淀山湖采集光泽黄颡鱼胃含物样品,采用传统镜检法对其食性进行研究。结果表明:淀山湖光泽黄颡鱼全年均有摄食,且摄食强度存在显著的季节变化,其中饱满指数排序:秋 > 春 > 冬 > 夏,春季空腹率显著高于其他季节;共鉴定其饵料生物7大类(11小类),聚类分析表明,出现率(F%)、数量百分比(N%)和相对重要性指数(IRI%)在衡量食物对光泽黄颡鱼的重要性方面表现一致,重量百分比(W%)与前三者存在显著差异,综合以上4种指数显示,底栖甲壳类、多毛类和水生昆虫是光泽黄颡鱼的主要食物来源;选用W%对其食性进行时空比较,聚类分析显示其冬季食物组成与其他季节存在显著差异,而站点间差异不明显,均以底栖甲壳类为绝对食物来源;食物组成Shannon-Weiner多样性存在明显的空间差异,高低依次为S5 > S3 > S4 > S2 > S1 > S6,研究认为光泽黄颡鱼食性具有较强的地域性和可塑性。     

Feeding habits of albacore Thunnus alalunga in the transition region of the central North Pacific

ABSTRACT:   The feeding habits of albacore Thunnus alalunga (fork length: 48.9–76.2 cm, n  = 132) were examined from late spring to early autumn in relation to its northward migration in the transition region between the subtropical and subarctic fronts in the central North Pacific. Samples were collected at night using surface gill nets or during daytime pole-and-line surveys in 2001 and 2002. During May and June, albacore fed mainly on Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus , which accounted for 27.2%, 67.0%, and 45.5% of the total stomach contents by number ( Cn ), wet weight ( WW ), and frequency of occurrence ( F ), respectively, and secondarily on the subarctic gonatid squid Gonatopsis borealis ( Cn , 15.8%; WW , 10.8%; F , 28.8%). From July to September, albacore continued to depend on Japanese anchovy ( Cn , 48.2–52.8%; WW , 79.9–95.2%; F , 27.8–85.4%). These results corresponded well with the remarkable rebound of the Japanese anchovy stock since the 1990s. Gonatopsis borealis , the main squid prey from May to June, almost disappeared from the stomachs of albacore from July to September, probably due to the northward migration of this squid to subarctic waters in summer. The feeding impact of albacore on the Japanese anchovy stock in the transition region was conservatively estimated to be from 1400 to 2100 tons per day from late spring to early autumn.     

人工育苗条件下大黄鱼仔、稚、幼鱼的摄食与生长

在人工育苗条件下,对0到40日龄大黄鱼(Pseudosciaenacrocea,Richardson)仔、稚鱼及早期幼鱼的摄食习性与生长特性进行研究。水温(24±1)℃时,孵化后0～5d属于仔鱼期,6～20d为稚鱼期,第21天起转为幼鱼期。大黄鱼仔鱼孵化3d后开口摄食;开口时平均口径为240μm,40日龄达2480μm;口径的大小变化与日龄的关系是:y=0.2327e0.0682x,R2=0.9492。试验用的生物饵料与实际生产一致,包括轮虫、丰年虫无节幼体、活桡足类和冷藏桡足类。不同生长期的大黄鱼鱼苗的摄食活动具有明显的昼夜节律:在1昼夜(24h)中,仔鱼仅在18:00左右出现1个摄食高峰,而稚鱼和幼鱼除了在18:00左右出现1个显著的摄食高峰外,在10:00左右还有1个相对小的摄食高峰。仔、稚、幼鱼夜间基本不摄食。大黄鱼鱼苗具有较高的摄食率和饱食率,随着生长而迅速升高。仔、稚、幼鱼的生长速度具有明显的阶段性,1～2日龄仔鱼生长较快,5～9日龄生长减慢,21～30日龄生长加快,31～40日龄生长减慢。这与鱼苗的食物转换和饵料生物的营养变化有关:5～9日龄生长减慢是由于鱼苗由混合营养转变为外源性营养所致;31～40日龄生长减慢是因为冷藏桡足类的营养价值较低。鱼体全长与日龄的关系式为y=3.2552e0.0472x,R2=0.9710;体长与日龄的关系式为y=3.3205e0.0374x,R2=0.9777;     

Feeding habits of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and other tuna Thunnus spp. juveniles in the tropical western Pacific

ABSTRACT: The feeding habits of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis juveniles (8.5–66.8 mm standard length) were examined, collected from the tropical western Pacific in October to December 1994, and their habits were compared with those of the other tuna Thunnus spp. juveniles (9.8–55.3 mm standard length). The indices, frequency of occurrence of each food item in the total number of stomachs examined (% F ), percentage of number of each food item to the total number of all food items identified (% N ), percentage of wet weight of each food item to the total wet weight of all food items identified (% W ), and relative importance of each food item ( IRI ) were estimated in the north equatorial current (NEC) and the north equatorial countercurrent (NECC) areas. The most dominant prey item of skipjack juveniles in the two areas was fish larvae. Other major prey items in the NEC area were Euphausiacea, Amphipoda, and Copepoda; whereas those in the NECC area were Copepoda, Cephalopoda, Euphausiacea, and Amphipoda. In the other tuna juveniles, the IRI of fish larvae in the two areas was remarkably high. Other prey, Euphausiacea and Cephalopoda in the NEC area only and Cephalopoda in the NECC area, were also found. These results indicate that the skipjack juvenile is primarily a piscivorous feeder although they also depend on various other prey organisms, whereas the other tuna juveniles are stronger piscivorous feeders.     

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。     

象山港黄姑鱼的食物组成与摄食习性

利用2011年10月至2012年9月在象山港水域采集的365尾黄姑鱼(Nibea albiflora)样本, 结合其生物环境的同步调查数据, 采用胃含物中饵料生物质量百分比(W%)、个数百分比(N%)和出现频率(F%)分析其饵料生物组成, 采用相对重要性指数(IRI)和百分比相对重要性指数(IRI%)衡量各饵料生物的重要性; 采用空胃率和胃饱满指数分析黄姑鱼的摄食强度; 采用选择性指数V_a检验黄姑鱼对某种饵料生物是否具有选择性。研究表明, 黄姑鱼的饵料生物共34种, 主要摄食虾类, 其中巨指长臂虾(Palaemon macrodactylus)、葛氏长臂虾(Palaemon gravieri)、口虾蛄(Oratosquilla oratoria)、刺螯鼓虾(Alpheus hoplocheles)和日本鼓虾(Alpheus japonicus)等是黄姑鱼主要的摄食对象。黄姑鱼的摄食强度受季节和体长变化影响, 冬季的摄食强度最低; 体长大于190 mm个体的摄食强度较低。此外, 性腺发育对摄食强度也存在一定影响。春、秋和冬季黄姑鱼主要以摄食巨指长臂虾、葛氏长臂虾、口虾蛄和日本鼓虾等为食; 夏季以巨指长臂虾、脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)和中华管鞭虾(Solenocera crassicornis)等为食。体长80 ~ 220 mm的黄姑鱼主要以小型虾类为食, 而体长大于220 mm的黄姑鱼主要摄食鱼类、口虾蛄等较大个体的饵料生物。选择性指数计算结果显示, 巨指长臂虾(选择性指数为0.145, χ²=4.192, P<0.05)、刺螯鼓虾(选择性指数为0.141, χ²=3.957, P<0.05)是其偏好食物, 日本囊对虾(Marsupenaeus japonicus)(选择性指数为–0.174, χ²=6.030, P<0.05)则属不易获得食物。结论认为, 黄姑鱼在象山港水域有着广泛的食物来源, 摄食种类多样, 不同季节和体长组的食物组成和摄食强度有所变化, 具有独特的食物选择性和摄食习性。建议在今后的黄姑鱼增殖养护工作中, 实时监测象山港水域黄姑鱼的种群变化动态, 结合港内黄姑鱼饵料生物的分布状况, 确定黄姑鱼合理的增殖放流规模和放流地点, 以争取最优的生态功效。

     

Spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution and feeding habits of Morone saxatilis in marsh creeks of Delaware Bay, USA

Delaware River and Bay Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), striped bass, have recently undergone a dramatic recovery. Here, we examine spatio‐temporal patterns in the distribution and food habits of striped bass in marsh creeks in the estuary (salinity range 1–20 psu), 1996–2000. Sampling occurred monthly, April through November, with otter trawls (4.9 m, 6 mm mesh, n = 6760) and weirs (intertidal block nets, 6 mm mesh, n = 647) at eight sites. Young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) fish were generally more than 10 times more abundant at oligohaline sites, although they were abundant at mesohaline sites in 1996, the lowest salinity year. Small striped bass (<100 mm) in creeks relied on mysids and other crustaceans and became more piscivorous with size. Overall, they consumed 46% by weight fish, of which 52% were mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus (L.), and 18% were YOY Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus (L.), prey types which are not typical in most food habits studies and are indicative of feeding in marsh creeks. These data suggest that young striped bass are an abundant component of Delaware Bay marsh creek fauna and may play an important role in trophic relays within this system.